Information for Vice-Presidents/Deans

Leadership UD brings together a diverse group of faculty and staff from across campus to learn, share and experience a wide range of issues from the perspective of a leader. Participants learn about themselves as leaders, and about formal and informal leadership structures on campus. They are given the opportunity to network with people and departments with which they may not normally interact.

As a sponsor you have the unique opportunity to nominate individuals from your division to participate in the Leadership UD experience.

Downloads:

Supervisor letter of rationale form (Word document)

Candidate application (Word document)

Deadline for application to Associate Provost: February 13, 2008

The following material describes the process by which a Leadership UD cohort is selected.

What is Leadership UD?

Leadership UD is designed to cultivate leadership capabilities and a leadership mindset among high interest/high potential University of Dayton employees, regardless of their career path or current position. A combination of faculty and staff are nominated by Vice Presidents and Deans to participate. Leadership UD takes place over the fall and spring semesters, and the group meets ten times in a seminar setting, in addition to an overnight kick-off retreat in September.

Leadership UD graduates are invited to attend select Leadership UD functions in subsequent years, and many continue to contribute to the experience. Participants take the skills, ideas and energy generated through the Leadership UD experience back to their departments as they serve the University.

What is the Purpose of Leadership UD?

The objectives of Leadership UD are as follows:

• expose participants to broader university issues and how UD "works" formally and informally;
• increase participant engagement with the University's mission, including an emphasis on its Catholic and Marianist heart;
• explore leadership, leadership in higher education, and leadership at UD;
• provide participants with access to ideas and people that shape the future direction of the University and higher education;
• enhance the ability of participants to look at the University as a system;
• empower participants to make further connections with colleagues across units and expand their networks;
• provide opportunities for participants to engage in self-reflection and explore what it means to lead;
• involve not only participants, but also, mentors and facilitators/session leaders in conversation and projects around issues important to our future.

What are some of the benefits of Leadership UD?

• Builds individual and institutional leadership capacity.
• Increases understanding of the University's complexity and enhances one's ability to feel connected to and access other University resources.
• Stimulates the formation of community apart from one's natural peer group, and allows easy access to other leaders in Leadership UD cohorts and administration.
• Creates a group of knowledgeable, committed individuals who feel ownership of the University and can be asked to assume formal and informal leadership roles on campus, e.g. serve on University committees and projects.
• Develops spokespersons and advocates for the UD Catholic and Marianist philosophy and culture both on and off campus.
• Increases retention.
• Enhances one's career development on campus.
• Creates another venue for the development of innovative ideas/solutions for the opportunities and challenges facing the University.
• Builds human networks of University of Dayton leaders.
• Enhances and accelerates participant exposure to other campus leaders and departments.

How are participants nominated?

A maximum of 23 people have the opportunity to participate in any given year in Leadership UD. The Deans and Vice Presidents are invited to discuss participation in Leadership UD with their target employees to identify interest. Current and past participants in Leadership UD have been asked to approach their Vice Presidents or Deans with suggestions for nominations. The maximum number of nominations allowed per Dean or Vice President varies according to the number of employees per unit. Also factored in is the strong desire to bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the cohort. Deans/Vice Presidents may invite up to their assigned limit of high potential interested exempt individuals from their areas to complete an application. Each applicant must obtain the supervisor and Dean/Vice President sign-off before returning the completed application to Deb Bickford, Ryan C. Harris Learning Teaching Center at z1302. The deadline for the candidate application and supervisor letter of recommendation is February 13, 2008.

How are participants selected?

Participants are nominated by their Dean/Vice President or President. Once nominated, nominees are expected to attend a mentoring session and an orientation session. After completing these two sessions and evaluating time availability and desire to be part of Leadership UD, participants will be asked whether they have the ability and desire to become part of the 2009 Leadership UD cohort.

The cohort selection process seeks a diverse cross-section of the UD community-men and women from different disciplinary traditions, career paths, education, backgrounds, and units.

What criteria are ideal in participants?

Candidates must be full-time employees for a minimum of one year at date of application.

Candidates should demonstrate a willingness to work collaboratively.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to set and achieve goals, which is an indication of candidates' motivation and leadership potential.

Candidates should demonstrate an interest in learning about leadership, about leadership in higher education, about leadership at UD, and about their own leadership characteristics. This is achieved through past and/or current involvement and interest in the UD community.

Candidates should show potential to impact the UD community further. This is based on the applicant's ability to offer leadership abilities to benefit the UD community, to work with others at UD, and to provide initiative in critical areas.

What is the required commitment of participants?

Each participant is required to attend at least eight out of the ten scheduled sessions and the mandatory opening retreat. Class participants are expected to prepare themselves for each session by reading materials or completing other assignments. Participants' repeated absences not only detract from their experience, but also adversely impact the entire cohort.

What kinds of activities will take place during the year?

• Retreat - A mandatory two-day retreat in September, which is integral to the team and trust-building processes. Leadership participants go off-site, and through a variety of activities, learn about each other and begin to explore leadership topics.

• Sessions –The Leadership UD Development Team draws upon the talents, experiences and expertise of the University, the local community and the cohort members themselves in designing and delivering ten formal sessions to the participants (40 hours). We develop sessions based on the belief that true insight and leadership development occurs when individuals understand and form connections among the institutional, professional and personal implications of what they are learning.  The sessions are organized around three units, leadership at the University of Dayton, leadership in a changing world, and leadership and personal growth.  Session formats include presentations, discussions, small and large group exercises, one-on-one conversations, journaling, etc.

• Leadership Chats - During some of the sessions (or on a separate occasion), campus or community leaders are invited to talk with Leadership UD participants about their own career paths, what drew them into leadership, what have been the significant challenges and rewards of leadership, etc. These leaders are given a forum for reflecting out loud about their career choices, and participants are allowed to see - up close and personal - the human side of leadership. Leadership chat presenters have included both formal leaders of the University as well as those who lead simply through example and commitment.

• Case Studies in Leadership – Leadership UD participants are encouraged to attend several events during the year that showcase leadership in action, as their schedules permit. These special events include attending University meetings (e.g. President’s Council, Provost’s Council, Board of Trustee meetings), University gatherings (e.g. Alumni Awards Dinners, promotion luncheons), and also representing the University at community gatherings (e.g. Women of Influence Award Luncheon). Cohort members are also invited to participate in a series of events reflecting student leadership in action.

What are participants saying about Leadership UD?

• "LUD has provided me with the opportunity to grow personally, professionally, socially and spiritually. I believe each person experienced LUD in a different way. I will be hard-pressed to find these extremely inspirational sources, such as those provided by LUD, in the years to come."

• "Meeting and getting to know others throughout the university who have very different job functions but very similar goals. Insight into areas of the university I had little knowledge of before this experience. A network of individuals that I feel comfortable asking work related questions and knowing that the confidentiality we experienced as a group will carry over after the cohort moves on. A new awareness and enthusiasm for my job and my relationships at work. Ideas, lots and lots of ideas!! Creative thinking. Sharing past experiences, learning from others. New ways to deal with old issues."

• "To be surrounded by great people with great ideas all working towards a common goal and in support of The University of Dayton. It provided an opportunity to think and reflect on things I don’t normally allow myself to do in the midst of my normal workload."

• "I learned about areas of the University that I never would have had the opportunity to learn about otherwise. I have established a support network of colleagues and friends that I believe will support me throughout my career. I enjoyed and learned a lot from the leadership chats with the various leaders at UD, many of whom I would not have had the opportunity to talk with in a small group other than this program."

• "My expectation of LUD was to give me an opportunity to learn more about UD’s hierarchic, history and Catholic Marianist traditions. I also expected an opportunity to meet with and connect with other leaders/future leaders of the university to discuss the future direction of the University. LUD far exceeded my expectations."

• "I expected that by participating in Leadership UD, I would build a network of colleagues and associates, gain a better understanding of UD from its current leadership and learn more about Leadership at UD as well as general leadership skills that I could apply to myself both personally and professionally to make me a better person as a whole. I feel that each was met and the experience is irreplaceable."

• "The most valuable thing I learned: I am really glad to be here at UD. I am surrounded by some of the most talented, sincere, dedicated, and caring people I have ever met. I cannot imagine a better place to be."

• "I have found most valuable the ability to listen to and to be exposed to individuals from all over campus, as well as to be able to share in their insights and gain an appreciation for the similarities and differences among us."

• "I expected to learn more about the University, different leadership styles within the UD community, and to meet different people from across UD. I was very satisfied – happy to have come to know the many dedicated individuals who work throughout the University."

Leadership UD Recruitment and Selection Team:

Deb Bickford, Donna Cox, Bill Hunt, Celine O’Neill

Leadership UD Development Team Members:

Deb Bickford, Karen Bull, Donna Cox, Brad Duncan,
Bill Hunt, Celine O'Neill, Laurie Quill, Stephen Richey-Suttles,
Carolyn Roecker-Phelps, Lisa Sandner,  Paul Vanderburgh,
Steve Wilhoit, Shirley Wright