The 2023-24 AAUA Professional Development Fellows Program
The AAUA Professional Development Fellows Program is an individually designed, year-long, mentored professional development experience during which the candidate uses his/her day-to-day responsibilities as the spring board for improving a set of self-identified professional skills to enhance his/her leadership competence. The professional development work of Fellows will be guided by both a self-selected, local professional mentor and a senior mentor assigned by AAUA. Fellows will consult regularly with their Local Mentor and will interact via distance modalities with their AAUA Senior Mentor, receiving feedback and guidance for improvement from both.
Participation in the 2023-2024 AAUA Professional Development Fellows Program is competitive. Typically, no more than 10 fellows are selected to participate annually. The fellowship activities will begin in July, 2023 and will continue through June 2024. Interested candidates must submit an application, no later than May 1, 2023. The specific requirements for the professional development plan proposal are intentionally less- rather than more-specific. This allows candidates the greatest flexibility in designing a personal professional development plan, and it challenges candidates to develop a proposal from which the reviewing committee will be able to determine the seriousness of thought and purpose associated with the plan. In some cases, the AAUA review committee may invite an applicant to participate in a telephone interview prior to making a decision. Decisions on all applications will be communicated to applicants by June 1st.
Upon being admitted into the program a participant will be designated as an AAUA Professional Development Fellow. Upon successful program completion, Fellows will receive a waiver of AAUA annual membership dues for a period of five years following the completion of the program (currently a $500 value).
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The AAUA Fellows Program is open to persons with current administrative appointments (unit director/department chair through vice president) in accredited American institutions of higher education. Personnel representing the widest range of administrative roles from institutions representing the diversity of American higher education institutions (two-year, four-year; public, private non-profit, private for profit; comprehensive, research-intensive, professionally/career-focused) are invited to participate. (Membership in AAUA is not required to participate in this program.)
Participants in the Fellowship program will implement an individualized professional development plan that will be completed at their home institution over the course of a twelve-month period. This plan uses a participant-developed, work-related project as the means of improving specific leadership skills that have been identified by the participant; the professional development work of the participant is guided by a local mentor, with advice and counsel from a senior mentor appointed by AAUA. The professional development plan is designed by the participant and must be submitted at the time of application for the program.
Applications for participation in the Fellows program are reviewed by a committee of senior college/university administrators (or recently retired former administrators); the committee will complete its work without knowledge of the specific identity of the applicant. The committee will recommend candidates for admission to the program; it may make recommendations for improvements in the proposed professional development plan.
For accepted participants, implementation of the plan and follow through will be the responsibility of the candidate, with regularly scheduled, frequent guidance from the local mentor and periodic consultation from the AAUA-designated senior mentor. Depending on the needs, interests, and numbers of participants on-line consultations/meetings of the entire Fellows group may be held periodically.
COST OF PARTICIPATION
The fee for participation in the AAUA Professional Development Fellows program is $1500.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application to the AAUA Professional Development Fellows Program consists of an individually developed application and proposal to be submitted no later than May 1, 2023. Applications/proposals must be submitted electronically as a single MSWord or pdf document to FELLOWSPROGRAM@AAUA.ORG.
Each application/proposal must contain the following sections, submitted in a single package:
Application Part I – Identification and background of the applicant:
Name, Job/Position Title and Institution, Complete Postal Mailing Address, Email Address, Telephone
A copy of the applicant’s resume/c.v.
Application Part II – A self-assessment of the applicant’s leadership strengths and professional development needs in ten leadership skills areas of:
- Advocacy. Is a capable spokesperson for the unit and makes use of both formal and informal opportunities to communicate the unit’s achievements as well as its needs.
- Communication. Communicates well orally and in writing with the broad array of personnel that are important to the unit (e.g., Administration, alumni, faculty, staff, students).
- Critical Thinking and Judgment. Realizes when he/she has insufficient information and seeks out additional information in a purposeful manner; opinions and beliefs are then based on reliable and verifiable facts; these opinions and beliefs are generally held to demonstrate intelligence, wisdom, common sense, and the ability to balance individual interests with institutional needs.
- Decisiveness. Is able to make decisions and is willing to stand by those decisions even when faced with substantial adversity or opposition. (Note: the quality of decision is dependent on critical thinking and judgment.)
- Human Relations. Demonstrates interpersonal sensitivity to the needs and interests of others.
- Motivation. Is able to motivate others in order to generate support for important tasks and is able to effectively lead the unit toward the completion of its work; is driven by a personal desire to succeed—both as an individual and for the unit.
- Organizational Ability. Approaches work systematically, manages time efficiently, meets deadlines, and methodically facilitates the work of the work of others for whom he/she is responsible.
- Personal Energy. Demonstrates enthusiasm for the unit and for the leadership position held; commits sufficient time to tasks in order to meet demands and deadlines.
- Personal Reflection. Regularly seeks feedback and engages in reflective self-assessment to determine effectiveness and needs/opportunities for improvement.
- Persuasion. Is able to convince others of the value of his/her positions.
Application Part III – The Professional Development Plan
List or describe one or more leadership skills that will serve as the focus for development throughout the Fellowship year. (Note: You are not restricted to the ten skills described in Part II.) Then, describe a special, job-related project to be completed during the year that will serve as the vehicle for developing the identified leadership skills. (Note: This project should be one that is “in addition to,” not “part-of” your regular day-to-day responsibilities; and, it should be one that—when completed—will serve some useful need of the institution.) In your description, be sure to illustrate the nexus between the project and your intended skill development. Anticipated time-lines should be stated.
Application Part IV – Mentor
- Identify (name and title) the individual who is proposed to serve as your local mentor through the course of your Fellowship. Describe the relationship of this person’s role to the role you hold in the institution, and briefly describe why you chose this person as mentor. (NOTE: AAUA provides no stipend for any mentoring services associated with the AAUA Fellows Program. Furthermore, it prohibits participating fellows from paying individuals for such services. All on-site mentors will be asked to verify that they are performing this service without remuneration, as a service to the advancement of the professional of higher education administration.)
- Attach a letter from the proposed mentor stating his/her willingness to serve in that capacity.
- Attach the resume/c.v. of the proposed mentor.
Application Part V – Recommendation
Attach a letter of recommendation for this program from an administrator at your institution (other than the person you have selected to serve as your mentor).
Application Part VI – Institutional approval
Attach a letter from an administrator at your institution who has appropriate personnel authority clearly giving permission for the you to engage in this activity while continuing your employment, and attesting to knowledge of and agreement that this fellowship experience is a voluntary, professional development activity that does not constitute an employment status of any type and that—as such—all employment and professional regulations and standards remain with the home institution.
QUALIFICATION, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LOCAL MENTOR
One characteristic of the AAUA Fellows Program is its use of a local mentor. Candidates are asked to select a mentor from their same institution. Someone who is aware of the candidate’s current work; someone who is respected for his/her administrative and leadership ability; someone who is willing to commit to the process of ensuring the candidate’s progress; someone with integrity who is willing to serve as a “friendly” and “best critic.” The strength of this program relies on the selection of an outstanding local mentor.
Local mentors receive no remuneration from AAUA. Furthermore, candidates are not allowed to pay for their services. This work is done as a service to the profession.
Local mentors are expected to meet regularly and frequently with fellows candidates, and candidates are expected to report progress, discuss issues/problems, ask for advice on whether progress is acceptable or needs improvement. Local mentors are asked to be enthusiastic and supportive in their work, but to be honest and challenging as well. The Fellowship year is one that should stretch the candidate in his/her efforts to improve. Frequency of communication and frequency of honest, evaluative feedback are key.
Approximately once a month, the local mentor will be contacted by the AAUA senior mentor.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AAUA SENIOR MENTOR
AAUA will assign a Senior Mentor to each candidate. The role of the Senior Mentor is to ensure regular communication between the candidate and his/her Local Mentor, and to offer suggestions on improving the overall professional development experience. Senior Mentors will consult directly with Local Mentors on a monthly basis, and will consult with individual participants periodically as warranted.
Senior Mentors are also available to candidates and/or Local Mentors for consultation and advice.
FOLLOWING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP YEAR
Upon successful completion of the professional development plan, a participant will be formally certificated as an AAUA Fellow of the AAUA—American Association of University Administrators. In addition to this certification, Fellows will receive a waiver of AAUA annual membership dues for a period of five years following the completion of the program. (Current value of the five-year waiver is $500.)
CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dan L. King, Ed.D., President and Chief Executive Officer
American Association of University Administrators
1 Ralph Marsh Drive │ Glen Mills, Pennsylvania 19342
Email: dking@aaua.org │ phone: 814-460-6498
