Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute Shapes Future Leaders in Higher Education

The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Group of the Big Ten Academic Alliance is much more than the cherished peer network of the individuals who lead faculty affairs and development offices across the Big Ten universities. The VPFA Group also creates and delivers the Alliance’s highly regarded and often-emulated portfolio of academic leadership programs. These programs, widely recognized as the standard bearers of excellence in higher education leadership development, encompass the celebrated Academic Leadership Program (ALP), Department Executive Officers Program (DEO), and Deans Leadership Program(DLP).

The new academic year brings a new unifying banner for these transformative programs: the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute! The Institute leverages the deep well of expertise within the Alliance universities to deliver skills-based and culturally competent training across the broad expanse of areas and issues at the core of higher education today. With its range of programs, the Institute serves emerging leaders at earlier points in their academic administration career as well as more experienced administrators, such as those in the early years of a department executive or dean role.

A compelling picture of the Institute’s impact is seen by looking at the current leadership of the Alliance universities. Within the sitting presidents, provosts, deans of liberal arts and sciences colleges and graduate colleges, and vice provosts for faculty affairs of the current 14 Big Ten Academic Alliance member universities, 50% are previous or current ALP or DLP Fellows. A whopping 71% of the sitting graduate deans are alumni, as are nearly 60% of the current deans of the liberal arts and sciences colleges of the Alliance universities!

Now in its 35th year, the Academic Leadership Program (ALP) is a year-long extensive leadership development program for emerging faculty and administrative leaders. Specifically focused on addressing the challenges of academic administration at major research universities, ALP has over 2,000 alumni – many of whom have gone on to the highest level of leadership across the country.

The Department Executive Officers Program (DEO), established in 1997, has supported over 1,200 executives along their leadership journeys. Each year DEO gathers approximately 65 new department executive officers in highly interactive, skills-based exercises and thought-provoking conversations about the challenges and opportunities they face daily.

The newest of the Institute’s academic leadership programs is the Deans Leadership Program (DLP). Designed for academic deans in their first 1-3 years in that role, DLP explores vital leadership skills and practices; considers commonly arising questions and situations; and creates opportunities for participants to reflect on their personal leadership style and purpose.

Participants in the Leadership Institute programs dedicate significant time and make a deep investment in their individual leadership journeys. This year’s ALP, DEO and DLP fellows are to be celebrated for this hard work and dedication! The 2023-2024 Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute Fellows rosters can be found on the Institute’s webpage.