VCU leadership program now accepting nominations

The Grace E. Harris Institute recently graduated its fourth class from the Virginia Commonwealth University Development Leadership Program, designed to develop the leadership potential of faculty and staff in key management roles at the university and the VCU Health System.

The yearlong program involves 25 to 30 participants who learn about issues in higher education and at VCU, and examine their own leadership strengths and challenges. They have the opportunity to meet regularly with a mentor from senior administration and immerse themselves in real-world team projects.

The 2004 class projects ranged from a student-centered university initiative to a proposal for a VCU Health Careers Pipeline, which would recruit disadvantaged students from the Richmond area into VCU Health Sciences and future employment in the VCU Health System.

“The VCU Leadership Program brings together people from all walks of life throughout the university community – people whose paths would never cross in the every day work environment,” said recent graduate Cynthia Schmidt, university marketing director. “We now have a greater understanding and respect for the scope of the university, the work it does, and the challenges each of us face every day.”

Ultimately, the goal of the program is to affect sustained, positive change at VCU by expanding the leadership capabilities of the academic and administrative units of the university and the VCU Health System.

Nominations are being accepted now for the Class of 2005 and are due Dec. 15, 2004. Senior leaders are encouraged to submit nominations for key managers in their units. Nomination and application forms and program information are available at http://www.vcu.edu/gehli/leadprog.html. Or contact Susan B. Wilkes, Ph.D., for more information at 827-1226 or swilkes@vcu.edu.

The program starts in January 2005 and is conducted over 10 months, with an opening day, 10 days in structured sessions with the entire class, a two-day retreat in April, time in small group work sessions, several hours in mentoring sessions and final closing ceremony.