One of the most critical issues in higher education today is the need to provide developmental opportunities for the next generation of leaders. We face unprecedented challenges to the sustainability and growth of our enterprise, and at the same time find that we have not devoted the kind of attention to the leadership pipeline as we might have. Whether we are speaking of leadership of an entire organization, of a team, or of a specific initiative, all too often the individual selected to lead is often forced to learn largely through OJT (on-the-job-training!).
 
While there are some excellent national leadership programs available in higher education (such as the Harvard IEM and ACE Fellows programs), not everyone can take advantage of those opportunities nor can many individuals avail themselves of off-campus leadership conferences and training programs. If we are to prepare future leaders, we need to take a multi-faceted approach at the campus level to designing programs that will help current leaders and potential candidates develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success.
 
Here at UM-Flint one of my goals this past year was to begin the process of developing such a program. I am pleased to say that I can report on significant progress. First, we are now nominating individuals for the following programs that are external to our campus: 
 
Harvard Institute for Educational Management (IEM);
Higher Education Resources Services (HERS) Summer Institute for Women;
Leadership Genesee;
Michigan ACE Women’s Network;
University of Michigan Business and Finance Leadership Academy;
University of Michigan CEW Advanced Leadership Seminar.
 
Second, we will be sponsoring the courses “Fundamentals of Supervision I and II” on a rotating basis (most likely every second or third year as we have a large enough cohort of participants).
 
Third, we will be initiating a new program in the fall called LEAD (Leadership, Excellence, Achievement & Development) for middle management personnel and emerging leaders. Our HR colleagues in Ann Arbor are currently assisting us with the design of this new program. Be on the lookout for more on this initiative in early fall! It will be an exciting opportunity for 15 of our UM-Flint colleagues, again on an every-other-year basis.
 
For students, we have initiated the week-long Intercultural Leadership Seminar (open to all students) and the Impact Institute (for members of Greek organizations). Both of these will be continued next year.
 
As with everything we do, we continue to look for ways to add more opportunities for the development of our faculty, staff and students in striving to be “Leaders and Best.” The Provosts of the fifteen public universities are engaged in a discussion about future faculty opportunities. There are more discussions “in the works” related to other possible leadership development opportunities as well. Stay tuned!
 
Ruth J. Person
Chancellor

Compete

Dr. Huey-Ming Tzeng, Professor of Nursing, has just been selected as one of the new fellows for the American Academy of Nursing. The induction ceremony will be held on October 15 in Washington D.C. Congratulations, Dr. Tzeng! Dr. Tzeng was also selected for the HERS leadership program, which she will be attending this summer.

Convene

Student Orientation Leaders join me at an Information Session

Over the course of the summer, our orientation staff will conduct 34 sessions for new students (and their parents). We have a really wonderful group of Student Orientation Leaders who make sure our new students feel welcome and are fully informed about everything they need to do to be successful. I try to attend as many evening sessions as I can (usually about 15 out of 34) and really enjoy the interaction with these great student ambassadors. They’re a wonderful example of leaders and best.

Connect

Go Blue on the Bricks 2011

On My Calendar