Principled Academic Leadership Program
The Principled Academic Leadership (PAL) Program equips executive officers in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Grainger College of Engineering with the problem-solving skills and tools necessary to navigate the unique challenges of the academic environment and fosters inclusive climates in their respective units. This program is a collaboration between LAS, Grainger College of Engineering, and the National Center for Principled Leadership & Research Ethics (NCPRE).
This well-established 10-month leadership development program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes individual and group exercises, lectures, case studies, and discussions tailored specifically for EOs at any stage. By adopting a cohort model, with defined groups participating over an extended period, the program ensures ongoing opportunities for learning and practicing essential skills. The interactive sessions facilitate skill-building and foster trust and connections among cohort members.
Participants have said:
- “My key takeaways from the program include: first, the value of intentional leadership with practical frameworks for navigating the unique challenges of academic environments rather than simply reacting to challenges.”
- “The program instilled that leadership development is continuous, providing evidence-based tools and emphasizing reflection as essential to my ongoing growth as an academic leader.”
- “The program not only gave me tools and strategies to be a better person at academic workplace but also at my home and other business endeavors that I am involved in.”
- "This really helped remind me that to be put in a leadership position is both an honor and a chore, but it’s best to look at it as a responsibility and an opportunity. This course really helped me feel good about the leadership positions I am in. It reminded me how important the good leaders I have and have had in my life have been to me personally and has re-energized me to try and be a strong, trustworthy, reliable leader. This class has made me stand up straighter.”
Program Format
A cohort of 12-15 EOs will meet online for 90 - 120 minute sessions throughout the academic calendar. Experts from NCPRE will lead the workshops. Facilitators include a range of experienced academic leaders, including NCPRE director C. K. Gunsalus, and President Emeritus Robert Easter.