Provost's Fellows Leadership Academy

The TWU Provost Fellows Leadership Academy is a one-year program, with the option for a second year, which engages participants in leadership development. The program is specifically designed for faculty and academic staff who aspire to serve in certain administrative roles at the department chair or director level (or higher) in Academic Affairs. 

Administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Success, the Academy serves multiple purposes including to:

• Support and develop emerging leaders across the division, colleges, and departments in Academic Affairs.
• Introduce and expose Fellows to TWU’s governance and operating structure and its internal resources and services;
• Expose Fellows to State of Texas higher education reporting, requirements, finance, and processes.
• Explore a wide-range of leadership philosophies and styles to allow development or enhancement of key leadership skills;
• Expand participants' awareness and understanding of the university's leadership structure, including insight into the day-to-day operations of all divisions; and
• Engage participants in institutional planning to advance the mission of the university.

• Customized professional leadership development training;
• Travel to a leadership conference in Academic Year 2024-2025.
• Comprehensive knowledge of TWU Operations and the state of higher education in Texas
• Career mapping and networking
• Identification of leadership style, strengths, and opportunities for growth

Participants must fully engage in all the activities associated with the Provost Fellows Academy which include the following minimum requirements:

• Completion of monthly* assignments
• Attendance and participation in monthly roundtable discussions and information sessions hosted by TWU leaders and other higher education leaders from around the State*.
• Monthly* sessions occur the first Friday of every month (9 am to 2 pm beginning in October 2024 and excluding January and May 2025. All sessions include refreshments and lunch.
• • Friday, October 4, 2024 from 9 am to 2 pm
  • Friday, November 1, 2024 from 9 am to 2 pm
  • Friday, December 6, 2024 from 9 am to 2 pm
  • Friday, February 7, 2025 from 9 am to 2 pm
  • Friday, March 7, 2025 from 9 am to 2 pm
  • Friday, April 4, 2024 from 9 am to 2 pm
• Attendance at one virtual or in-person leadership focused conference. (Registration and travel funds provided by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Success).

*Monthly meetings exclude January and May 2025. In general, participants should not miss more than one webinar session or roundtable discussion and information session for the duration of the program. The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Success will cover travel costs for in-person attendance of Dallas and Houston Fellows. 

In the first year, individuals will participate in monthly meetings on a variety of pertinent topics, engage in conversations with university leaders, discuss leadership styles and theories, complete a personal strengths and knowledge assessment, and write a professional development plan. Session topics will include, but are not limited to, principles of budgeting, handling Title IX and student complaints, conflict management, advancement, networking, strategic planning, recruitment and retention, fundraising, policy development, enterprise risk management, and more. Sessions will take place monthly, excluding January and May. The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Success will provide registration and travel funds for Fellows to attend one leadership conference.

At the conclusion of the first year, participants may choose to continue for a second year. Participants who continue in the second year will engage in one-on-one mentorship with internal university leaders, including job shadowing. Second-year Fellows are expected to develop a project or collaboratively engage in or lead university initiatives that both advance their own skills and support the mission of TWU. To support their acquisition of applicable skills, participants will be invited/encouraged to attend an external leadership conference.

Individuals aspiring to the department chair, director, or executive director level throughout the Division of Academic Affairs. The number of Fellow participants should not exceed 10 in Year 1.