Leadership Development
AASCU’s equity-centered leadership development programs are timely, relevant, and solutions-driven. They are designed for leaders at all levels of the academy, from experienced and aspiring presidents to new provosts to rising stars among faculty and staff.
Applications are open.
AASCU equips leaders of regional public universities with the skillset and mindset to lead in today’s complex world.
Each of our programs supports individual leadership journeys, whether that’s strengthening leadership competencies, deepening expertise, or transitioning into a new role.
Learn more about our suite of programming designed to support leaders at every step of your journey.
Explore opportunities to advance to senior roles in higher education.
Develop critical skills for leading your department as an institutional citizen.
Gain insights into critical focus areas for provosts and the position’s broader impact within the sector.
Join a dynamic community of first-time provosts leading state colleges and universities.
Learn tactical ways to lead institutional transformation for equitable student success.
Explore a career path toward the presidency or other executive level roles in higher education.
Build the skillset and mindset to advance to a presidency.
Gain a community of support and practical orientation to the presidency.
A meaningful, supportive space for all of our dynamic spouses and partners to flourish.
Our personalized leadership development programming produces transformative results.
Campus administrators leave our programs energized and ready to take on the challenges that come with their critical roles. AASCU’s highly regarded leadership development programs for aspiring, new and veteran presidents and chancellors help leaders gain critical skills and strategies to navigate complex higher education landscapes. Programs are also available to strengthen your senior leadership team, emerging leaders, and to support spouses and partners.
AASCU leadership development programs are based on the following foundational principles:
- Mentorship and Coaching: Each program includes a mentoring component, rallying the talents, generosity, and expertise of AASCU members and renowned higher education leaders who share our commitment to investing in the next generation.
- Community-Building: All programs create opportunities for networking, peer-to-peer learning, and alumni engagement.
- Peer-to-Peer Learning: Each program includes opportunities to “call a friend” and engage in structured conversations where participants gain insight from their fellow participants’ knowledge and learned experience.
- Wellness: We are deeply committed to creating an environment that facilitates open, honest dialogue and opportunities for structured reflection about each participant’s work as well as the higher education landscape.
- Policy: AASCU leadership programs leverage the expertise of our Government Relations and Policy Analysis team to keep members abreast of policies affecting public higher education.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: AASCU leadership programs integrate DEIB principles and discussion through every learning opportunity to ensure the next generation of higher education leaders views every decision through a lens of equity and inclusion.
- Student Success: All AASCU leadership programs reflect our commitment to advancing social and economic mobility for students of all backgrounds; student success is at the heart of every learning outcome.
- Individual Transformation: All programs are designed to support participants in their individual journey, whether that is leading from where they are or transitioning to the next role.
- Institutional Transformation: All programs will engage participants in their institution’s most ambitious goals, preparing them to lead transformative change on campus.
- Accountability: AASCU leadership programs provide participants with a plan of action and a system of accountability to keep moving toward their career goals.
≈3K
campus leaders have participated in one or more of AASCU’s leadership development programs since 1998.
58
current presidents/chancellors of member institutions participated in at least one AASCU leadership development program.
112
member institutions represented across the 2024 cohorts of DCLI, MLI, ELP, BAPA, ELA.
97%
of participants surveyed from our 2023 leadership development programs agree or strongly agree with the statement “I feel equipped to lead with an equity mindset to advance social and economic mobility for students of all backgrounds.”
Testimonial
“NPA is an absolute must for all new college and university presidents. The depth of knowledge of the faculty and laser focus on mission critical best practices for success are extremely valuable. The intentionality and rich diversity of the NPA faculty and cohort members also speaks volumes about AASCU’s preeminent role in shaping the future of higher education.”
Latest News & Resources
Get to know the AASCU members who are committed to your success.
Learn more about the Committee on Professional Development.
The Committee on Professional Development serves as an advisory group to create meaningful communities of experience for member presidents and support AASCU leadership development programs focused on building leadership capacity and diversity.
Apply now to join our our 2025-2026 programs.
Applications and endorsements for the Becoming a Provost Academy, Emerging Leaders Program, Executive Leadership Academy, Millennium Leadership Initiative, and Student Success Institute are due on Feb. 10, 2025.
