Developing Leaders within our system
The UNC Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) prepares and develops future leaders identified within the UNC System. Broadly, the program’s purpose is to increase the ability of talented employees to move into Systemwide senior leadership positions. Participants will be committed to and held accountable for active engagement with the program content, faculty, and cohort colleagues. The ELI is designed to deepen participants’ capacity to immediately contribute to the success of their institution as well as the broader UNC System. By building collaboration and partnerships among institutions through Executive Leadership Institute cohorts, best practices are shared and leveraged. In turn, experienced administrators will be better prepared for more demanding roles and/or re-energized in current roles.
“The Executive Leadership Institute helps develop the skills and talents of the next generation of UNC System leaders. Experiences gained in the program prepare participants to take on more challenging roles or take the next step in their careers. The quality of the institute’s first cohort of graduates has made me confident about the future leadership of our university system.”
Peter Hans, President of the University of North Carolina System
Program Overview
World-class research and executive education faculty from across the UNC System partner to deliver a challenging, engaging, and best-in-class leadership curriculum with measurable outcomes. The program is delivered in three modules over 10 months, each designed to deepen expertise essential for success at the executive level. Program features include:
- Interactive and experiential immersion modules delivered online and face to face at three UNC System institutions (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and University of North Carolina at Charlotte).
- Leading experts from across the UNC System provide content design and delivery.
- Each participant creates an individual development plan with their executive coach.
- A pre- and post-institute 360° assessment is administered to gauge progress and provide valuable feedback.
- Individual and small-group executive coaching sessions (outside of modules) to supplement and apply learning principles.
Benefits and Outcomes
- This program is anticipated to increase retention potential for high-potential senior leaders – those who have the ability, aspiration, and engagement to grow their careers.
- The UNC System benefits by identifying and developing the next generation of senior leadership. Retaining these exceptional leaders within the System invests in individuals who already have knowledge of System culture and the State of North Carolina, thus decreasing the overall cost of employee turnover.
- On average, internal hires tend to climb the learning curve faster by possessing an understanding of culture and climate. This program will provide the development to prepare our current administrators for those future opportunities.
- Program elements are customized to provide a deeper dive into specific UNC System knowledge and culture. While in many ways similar to higher-cost senior leadership development programs, we will be leveraging the expertise of UNC System professors and resources to offer a high-value, low-cost experience to more individuals.
Nomination Process
A select group of participants will be accepted into each annual cohort of the Executive Leadership Institute. Each of the universities with the UNC System and affiliates will nominate 1-2 individuals for participation. Nominations will be made through each respective chancellor’s or chief executive’s office. The UNC ELI Program Director determines the participant roster.
Cost
Participant registration is $1,400 plus travel expenses, to be paid by the institution.
Cohort Information and Timeline
Cohort 5
Milestones
- Orientation and alumni event | Sept. 24-25, 2024
- Module 1: UNC-Chapel Hill | Oct. 23-24, 2024
- Fall seminar (virtual) | Nov. 20, 2024
- Module 2: North Carolina A&T | Feb. 5-6, 2025
- Spring seminar (virtual) | March 5, 2025
- Module 3: UNC Charlotte | April 16-17, 2025
Module Agendas
Module 1: Executive Leadership (UNC-Chapel Hill)
- Self-Awareness
- Values, Vision, and Purpose
- Influencing Up and Down
- Aligning and Planning
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Financial Management and Budgeting
Module 2: Leading Teams (North Carolina A&T)
- Building Effective Teams
- Understanding Others and Motivation
- Coaching
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Leading and Adapting to Change
Module 3: Leading the Enterprise (UNC Charlotte)
- History of North Carolina
- Emerging Issues in Higher Education
- Managing Complexity of the Whole Organization
- Panel Discussion: Governance, Building Community Partnerships
- Executive Presence
- Media Relations
- Crisis Communication
- Communicating Strategic Direction and Organizational Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about ELI, start with our frequently asked questions, listed below. If you have questions that are not addressed there, please email Lynn Duffy, Senior Associate Vice President for Talent Acquisition and Leadership Development.
How do I participate in the Executive Leadership Institute?
Upon request, each UNC System institution or affiliate submits up to two nominations for the program each year. Nominations are reviewed and participants are selected by the ELI Program Director.
How many people will be accepted into this program?
The target cohort size is between 24 and 36 participants from across the UNC System institutions and affiliates.
What kind of financial support does the System provide for the program?
The System Office will cover the costs of program design, delivery, and materials. Each participant’s university is expected to cover a program registration fee of $1,400 per person, as well as the costs for meals not provided during the program modules, travel expenses, and lodging.
What are the expectations of participants other than attendance at the three modules?
- Participants are assigned to smaller teams or “learning leagues” to facilitate learning and apply new skills/concepts before and after each module. This provides participants with valuable collaboration opportunities and hands-on experience working with a team in a learning lab format. Each learning league works with a designated executive coach.
- Participants are expected to serve as mentors for future ELI participants.
- ELI participants also work one-on-one with an executive coach. The coach supports each leader to accelerate his or her personal development as a leader. Coaches are credentialed by the International Coach Federation and have experience working with senior executives. The program director assists with facilitation of the coaching component to ensure each participant gets the most out of the experience.
What ongoing support will be offered after completing the program?
ELI will provide opportunities for participants to build ongoing networks and partnerships among those in their cohort. In addition, we will identify potential mentors with whom participants can choose to connect.