Apply for UF's Advanced Leadership program by Oct. 30

October 21, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tailored to the needs of the University of Florida faculty and professional staff who wish to further explore and develop their leadership skills, UF’s new Advanced Leadership for Academics and Professionals program will launch in the spring of 2010. The deadline to apply for this program is Oct. 30.

Developed as a cooperative effort of the UF Provost’s Office, the Faculty Senate, Human Resource Services, and the Office of the Sr. Vice President for Administration and Business Ventures, the new program will provide employees the opportunity to work with peers within the university while cultivating the individual skills needed to be more effective managers and leaders.

This new program replaces the previously offered Next Level Leadership program. With two tracks—one for academic leaders and the other for professional staff—the Advanced Leadership for Academics and Professionals program is based on leadership competencies specifically identified as important for success at UF. Program participants will participate within their tracks for certain development activities; at other times, the tracks will come together. To learn more about UF’s competency model, which was developed based on best practices of AAU peers and from interviews and focus groups with successful professional and academic leaders at UF, visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/training/leadership/competencies.asp.

Participants will be selected via a competitive application process and will be announced in mid-November. The program will begin in January 2010 and will meet six times during the course of 2010—typically 1.5 days each time. This year, fees to participate in this program have been reduced from last year’s Next Level Leadership program from $1,000 per participant to $750. All materials (including a 360-degree evaluation pre- and post-program), facilitation fees and meals are included, and no travel is necessary for those who work in Gainesville.

For more information, please contact UF Training and Organizational Development at training@ufl.edu or visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/training/leadership/alap.asp.

This program represents an invaluable opportunity for professional development, including exposure to UF’s highest levels of administration. Given the array of challenges the university currently faces, leadership development is increasingly essential to equip UF’s current and future leaders to support the institution.