LEAD+

LEAD+

Leadership Enhancement for Academic Departments

LEAD+ (Leadership Enhancement for Academic Departments) is a professional development and support program for heads/chairs and associate deans covering topics of common concern to department/unit leaders. It is offered jointly by the Academic Personnel Office and the Office of Faculty Development. The 90-minute sessions are offered twice monthly during the academic year.

The objectives of LEAD+ include: 
- Dissemination of key policy and procedural information
- Enhancement of leadership and supervisory skills
- Community building and support
- Connecting department/unit leadership to on-campus resources


LEAD+ Schedule 2023-24:

Sessions are offered twice monthly via Zoom during the academic year on Fridays from 12:30 to 2:00 pm.

Sept. 8 - Introductory Session - Budget Basics
Sept. 22 - Workload Equity Plans
Sept. 29 - LEAD+ Reception
Oct. 6 - Building Healthy Workplace Relationships in Your Department
Oct. 20 - ADVANCE: Equitable Faculty Evaluation
Nov. 3 - The Graduate School
Nov. 17 - Conversation with Chancellor Reyes
Dec. 1 - Findings from 2023 New Faculty Survey

Feb. 2 - Collective Bargaining (GEO, MSP)  
Feb. 16 - Crisis Management Processes
Mar. 1 - Conflict Resolution: Restorative Practices
Mar. 15 - Joyful & Effective Faculty Meetings  
Mar. 29 - Strategic Planning and Your Department
Apr. 5 - VCRE/Compliance/Conflict of Interest
May 1 - Appreciation Reception

May 10 - Faculty Retention Strategies: Removing Barriers and Shoring up Guardrails

LEAD+ Heads/Chairs Cohort: Building Healthy Workplace Relationships in Your Department

This spring, Dr. Emily Heaphy (OFD Chancellor's Leadership Fellow) will lead a 5-part workshop series focused on improving the quality of relationships in departments with a small cohort of department heads and chairs from across campus. 

Workshop sessions include: 

  • A research-based model of how to be an inclusive relational leader
  • Discussion of available data about the quality of relationships
  • Managing relationships with staff
  • Managing relationships with faculty
  • Peer coaching

Registration for this cohort is currently closed. Please contact Emily Heaphy (eheaphy@isenberg.umass.edu) with questions.