Leadership Development

Department Chair Leadership Institute 

DCLI is designed to develop critical skills for leading your department as an institutional citizen.

Apply today

Develop leadership skills needed to lead change during turbulent times. 

The Department Chair Leadership Institute is designed for current department chairs who serve at state colleges and universities and aspire to be dynamic, strategic, and empathetic leaders. Participants gain a national perspective on the importance of the department chair in serving the institutional mission, leading with an equity mindset, delivering value and ensuring student success. 

Who Should Participate

  • Current or newly appointed department chairs who are committed to strengthening their leadership skills.

How You’ll Benefit

  • Develop critical skills for leading your department as an institutional citizen. 
  • Build a strong and supportive network of colleagues and mentors. 
What to Expect
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions integrated throughout.
  • Tailored to the distinctive needs of department chairs serving at state colleges and universities.
  • Strong relational component—commitment to create and support trust, encourage peer-to-peer learning, confidentiality, and safety among the cohort.
  • Develop critical skills for leading as an institutional citizen.
  • Equip department chairs with tools to overcome common challenges.
  • Prepare department chairs with tools and skills to succeed in their chair role as well as for future roles in university administration.

In anticipation of high demand, the Department Chair Leadership Institute will be offered twice in 2024. The program will be the same for both the January and August cohorts and will be led by a faculty of experienced Department Chairs and University Administrators from AASCU institutions.

  • Cohort One
    • An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on January 10 and 11, 2024.
    • In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
    • Two, 75-minute virtual sessions in February and March.
  • Cohort Two
    • An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on August 14 and 15, 2024.
    • In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
    • Two, 75-minute virtual sessions in September and October.
  • Leading your department in alignment with your institution’s mission and strategic plan
  • Growing and sustaining a future-focused department
  • Navigating difficult conversations
  • Maintaining relevance in the face of changes in higher education
  • Resource management
  • Principles of supervision
  • Wellness for leaders
  • Applications that are complete, including a nomination/endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor, and submitted by the deadline will be considered.
  • The Department Chair Institute faculty will review applications and select a cohort that reflects the diversity of AASCU membership.
  • Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
  • A maximum of 36 participants will be selected for both cohorts.

The application period for Cohorts One and Two for this program will open in late summer 2023. A complete application for the Department Chair Institute includes the following:

  • Applications and endorsements are due by Oct. 10, 2023
  • Nomination or endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor from your home institution. (Nominations from higher-level administrators do not carry more weight.)
  • Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals.
  • Demonstrated interest in subsequent leadership positions.
  • Commitment to 100% participation.
  • $1250 members
  • $2250 non-members (AASCU members receive preference)
Is my institution an AASCU member?
Meet the Department Chair Leadership Institute faculty

Coming soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

AASCU member institutions may nominate more than one Department Chair. In order to engage a diverse cohort and to best serve as many of our member institutions as possible, AASCU may cap the number of participants from the same institution at two per cohort.

Aspiring leaders are encouraged to apply for the Department Chair Institute and for 2024 Leadership Development Programming. Program timing and curriculum is designed uniquely for different audiences.

AASCU Consulting offers a 1.5-day department chair institute onsite at your institution, followed by four 1-hour virtual workshops during the academic year.  The institution-specific onsite academy program aligns with the AASCU Department Chair Leadership Institute or can be further tailored to address specific topics at your institution. Contact Matt Ceppi to learn more.

Application Details

Apply today to participate  in a 2024 cohort.

Submit an application.

Submit an endorsement.

Application Requirements

  • Nomination or endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor from your home institution (nominations from higher-level administrators do not carry more weight.)
  • Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals.
  • Demonstrated interest in subsequent leadership positions.
  • Commitment to 100% participation.

Important Dates

  • Applications and endorsements are due by Oct. 10, 2023
  • Registration will open in late summer 2023.
  • Cohort One
    • An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on January 10 and 11, 2024.
    • Two, 75-minute virtual sessions in February and March 2024.
  • Cohort Two
    • An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on August 14 and 15, 2024.
    • Two, 75-minute virtual sessions in September and October 2024.

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