Provost seeks faculty nominations for new program
By Sharita Forrest, Assistant Editor 217-244-1072; slforres@illinois.edu
Faculty members on the Urbana campus are being invited to lend their experience and expertise to critical strategic initiatives and projects for the campus, while taking advantage of opportunities to nurture their leadership skills, through a new fellowship program implemented by Provost Linda Katehi. Katehi is asking campus leaders to nominate distinguished faculty members for the Illinois Executive Academic Leadership Program, an opportunity for high-potential faculty members who aspire to administrative careers to gain academic leadership experience by leading campuswide committees and collaborating with deans and other campus leaders in planning and implementing a range of projects. The program will expand opportunities for high-potential, high-talent faculty members to hone their management skills while learning about leadership and administrative processes in higher education contexts and acquiring deeper knowledge of the institution. “Faculty involvement in leadership is critical for the well-being and advancement of campus, particularly as we move forward with our strategic plan and we aim at making the University of Illinois the number one public institution in the country,” Katehi said. “This program provides a new way to engage our distinguished faculty members in leadership roles and use their creativity in addressing the opportunities and challenges ahead of us in our journey to pre-eminence.” During their two- or three-year terms, fellows will hold 50 percent appointments in the Office of the Provost and will function as associate provosts while maintaining 50 percent appointments in their home units. Fellows will have a variety of collaborative and learning opportunities designed in conjunction with their individual interests and long-range career goals. During their first year, fellows will participate in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation’s Academic Leadership Program, a series of three interconnected seminars that emphasize topics such as human resources and leadership, budget and resource management and the future of the public research university. Fellows also will have discretionary travel and/or training budgets that they can use for professional development activities, such as learning about organizational and leadership structures and processes at other institutions of higher education, participating in conferences or formal training programs, or engaging in federal policy initiatives. Fellows will work with mentors from the provost’s or the chancellor’s staff, who will serve as models while working with them on developing and implementing particular initiatives. For the program’s inaugural year, nominees are being sought who are interested in providing leadership in the areas of undergraduate education, diversity and interdisciplinary programs. “We see great benefit from engaging faculty members in critical leadership positions and decision-making, both for the individual faculty members and for the campus,” Katehi said. To nominate a faculty member for the fall 2006 Illinois Executive Academic Leadership Program, deans or unit heads should submit a statement from the nominee summarizing their interests and professional goals, a curriculum vita and a letter of endorsement signed by the nominee’s dean and unit head. Nominations are due by April 28 and a committee will select faculty members for the program by May 10. Questions or requests for additional information may be directed to Vice Provost Ruth Watkins, 333-2353 or rwatkins@illinois.edu.
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