Given the significant headwinds facing higher education, sticking with “the way things have always been done” is no longer a viable option. Many institutions struggle to break from tradition and reflect and plan in the long term, finding themselves stymied by a lack of trust and collaboration across divisions, leaders who are constantly caught in firefighting mode, and a prevalent zero-sum mindset.   

This workshop is designed specifically for Provosts and Chief Academic Officers who want to think strategically about the future of their institutions, mobilize their senior team more effectively toward that vision, and engender the kind of trust, creative thinking, and collaborative problem-solving within the culture that is needed to effect positive and impactful change.   

More details about the timing of the days can be found by clicking Learn More and Register, but session descriptions for each day follow below:  

A Framework for Leading Change & Innovation 
Leading change in higher education is difficult in the best of circumstances, let alone in the shifting landscapein which we currently find ourselves. Most change models miss two critical dimensions that enable or hinder change, so we’ll share a framework that can help you to both diagnose your current situation and lead change more effectively.  

The Five Paths to Leadership® 
The Five Paths to Leadership® is a powerful tool for deepening self-awareness, and we’ll use this tool specifically to help you examine how your natural leadership tendencies shape the way you lead change, balance strategy and operations, and build teams.  

 Building a High-Performing Team 
Leading from the Provost’s seat means aligning a complex and often fragmented group of academic leaders from Deans to Vice Provosts, and more. Teams often compete for resources rather than operating with a shared institutional purpose. In this session, we’ll share a practical assessment tool and targeted strategies for you to improve alignment, collaboration, and trust among your team.  

 Case Study: Partner Institution 
In this session, we’ll feature success stories from some of our partners to showcase how the Provost’s leadership can shape the growth and resilience of an institution.  

 Assessing Your Current Context 
We’ll wrap up the first day of the workshop with a chance to reflect on current challenges and opportunities across four key dimensions.  

 Leading Change in a Changing Environment 
The landscape of higher education is shifting in fundamental ways—some predictable, and some not. We’ll share some proven methods for assessing these shifts, ensuring that you and your team remain not just future-ready, but also able to take specific and proactive action.  

 Building Leadership Capacity 
Provosts cannot lead change alone. They need partners at the Dean, Associate Dean, and Chair levels. In this session, we’ll explore ways in which institutions are building leadership capacity, identifying best practices as well as new opportunities for consideration. 

 Case Study: Building Internal Leadership Programs 
Most institutions lack the bandwidth and expertise to develop leaders in more systematic ways. In this session, we’ll share a case study of how Academic Impressions partners with institutions to build internal capacity so that institutions can build in-house leadership programs.  

 Action Planning 
We’ll close the workshop with time to reflect on your next steps.

Bring a key team member to this valuable training! Whether they’re on a path to leadership or aiming for a future role as provost, this is the perfect opportunity to develop their capacity.

Academic Impressions workshops provide the opportunity for quality conversations and relationship-building through both formal and informal networking opportunities in an intimate setting. Our in-depth and hands-on approach to learning provides you with actionable takeaways.

Learn More About the Academic Impressions Workshop Experience ➞