Too often, we equate supervision with ‘fixing problems,’ but in this session, we’re shifting our focus to ‘developing people.’ We’re going to practice specific coaching techniques that move us from simply directing work, to asking the right questions—the kind that build engagement, trust, and drive long-term productivity. This course is a component of the Advanced Supervision Certificate, but you are not required to be a part of a current or past cohort to attend this program. If you haven’t considered the Advanced Supervision Certificate, we invite you to check it out.
Delegation is one of the hardest leadership skills to actually practice, especially when your plate is already full and doing it yourself feels faster and safer. In this virtual session, we’ll help you to see delegation through a new lens: the Five Paths to Leadership®. We’ll open with a brief overview of the Five Paths, then move into two hands-on activities. First, you’ll explore what’s genuinely holding you back from delegating—whether that’s a fear of losing quality, overloading your team, or losing your own sense of impact. Then you’ll practice crafting a real delegation message—one that speaks to what actually motivates the person you’re delegating to. You’ll leave with a message you can send this week, and with a clearer picture of what’s been getting in your own way. Join us to build a habit that frees you up for the work that only you can do, and that gives someone else the chance to grow into theirs.
The Mid-Level Leaders Institute is a year-long, cohort-based program for mid-level advancement professionals across the UNC System institutions. We kickoff in September in Raleigh to set a foundation for our time together. From here we will have six 90-minute virtual sessions between October and April. The institute concludes with an in-person capstone in May 2027, more details to come. Your virtual session topics will be announced soon! Calendar invitations and Zoom links will come directly from Yianna Kappas, Learning and Development Manager at Academic Impressions. Virtual Sessions: October 2026 – April 2027. All times Eastern Session Date Topic Session 1 October 8, 2026 | 9:00 am The Anatomy of Trust Session 2 November 12, 2026 | 9:00 am Effective Communication Using the Five Paths to Leadership® Session 3 December 10, 2026 | 9:00 am Managing Up, Down, and Across Session 4 February 2027 Resilient Leadership Session 5 March 2027 Navigating Difficult Conversations Session 6 April 2027 Change Leadership Capstone May 2027 To be announced
September 10, 2026 – Academic Affairs Leadership Academy Program Kick-Off 9:00am – 4:00pm (Breakfast and Lunch Provided) October 1, 2026 – The Anatomy of Trust Trust is at the heart of leadership; you cannot lead those who do not trust you. Covey says we move at the speed of trust—when trust is high, people give you the benefit of the doubt, they find your meaning, they are willing to take a chance. When trust is low, they challenge you every step of the way, they misinterpret you, they assume the worst. It’s our job as leaders to build and cultivate trust—both interpersonally and also among and between the team. In this session, we’ll explore the topic of trust building. Specifically, we’ll explore the following: November 5, 2026 – The Power of Delegation You will learn how to use delegation as a strategic leadership tool to empower your team, manage your own workload more effectively, and create a more sustainable leadership practice. By entrusting others with meaningful responsibilities, you can focus on advancing departmental goals, reduce burnout, and model trust in your faculty and staff. Ultimately, this approach strengthens the department and institution by fostering a culture of growth, innovation, and […]
This self-directed program gives you a dedicated space to focus on your role as a leader of an academic department. This program will help you develop a deeper sense of who you are as a leader, deliver and receive feedback in a professional way, manage conflict effectively, delegate with the intention of building leadership capacity across your faculty and staff, and design meetings that improve the quality of the experience for everyone in the room. How It Works This program is asynchronous and self-paced, designed to fit alongside your ALC meeting schedule. As a Boise State participant, you will gain access to: Each course pairs with a corresponding ALC session, so you can bring your reflections into conversation with colleagues across campus. Meeting Dates Below are the meeting dates where you’ll be discussing each topic.
Kick-Off Workshop – August 6-7, 2026 This workshop will take place in person beginning at 9am on August 6. September 18, 2026 – The Anatomy of Trust – Kristin Sosnowsky Trust is at the heart of leadership; you cannot lead those who do not trust you. Covey says we move at the speed of trust—when trust is high, people give you the benefit of the doubt, they find your meaning, they are willing to take a chance. When trust is low, they challenge you every step of the way, they misinterpret you, they assume the worst. It’s our job as leaders to build and cultivate trust—both interpersonally and also among and between the team. Post-session Reflection Activity: Write down one small step you’re willing to take this semester to delegate and trust more intentionally in your research group or lab. October 16, 2026 – The Secret to Great Feedback – Jane Cassidy Giving feedback to other faculty or staff in a way that is both direct and respectful is challenging—even for seasoned leaders—especially when the conversation is difficult. Most of us figure it out the hard way by fumbling, softening what we meant to say, or confusing the message. In […]
General description of the course
This course equips Department Chairs with practical tools to transform meetings from routine obligations into purposeful, productive experiences. You’ll learn to design intentional agendas, build psychological safety, and use facilitation strategies that ensure that all voices are heard. The course also introduces decision-making models and the Five Paths to Leadership® framework to help you adapt your approach to different team dynamics. You’ll leave with a reflective practice for continuously improving how you lead meetings that move their departments forward.
Session 1 — Foundations of Service Excellence Objectives: Establish shared understanding of service excellence; introduce university-specific context and expectations. Pre-work: Session 2 — Service Excellence Competencies & Skills Objectives:Build practical interpersonal skills to improve clarity, rapport, and trust. Pre-work: Session 3 — De-Escalating Difficult Situations Objectives:Prepare staff to handle complaints, difficult interactions, and high-pressure moments. Solidify learning and drive long-term behavioral change. Pre-work:
