Leadership Academy

General Information

The Public Service and Outreach Leadership Academy represents more than two years of planning by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. The curriculum is the result of extensive research including benchmarking other programs, interviews with senior leaders and examining data such as retirement projections. In 2005, the Leadership Development Advisory Committee was formed and charged with: providing feedback and guidance on potential leadership development models, identified leadership competencies, assessment instruments, curriculum, and other items as needed; helping to develop application/nomination instruments; serving as facilitators/instructors if interested and qualified; helping to develop future programs; and helping to assess, evaluate and modify programs as needed. Advisory Committee members will serve a minimum of two years and no more than three years.

The Program

As part of the Public Service and Outreach 2005-2010 Strategic Plan, the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach made a commitment to Promote, Sustain, and Support a Healthy Organization Focused on Providing Continuous Service to the People of Georgia. The state of Georgia and the University has been, and continues to be, in a constant state of change, including the anticipated retirement of a significant number of University faculty and staff within the next five years.

In light of these facts, it is imperative that Public Service and Outreach provide ongoing support and professionally develop emerging leadership and talent for the future of our organization and our state. As a part of this commitment, you have been selected to participate in the inaugural class of the University of Georgia Public Service and Outreach Leadership Academy, an intensive, 17-month program focusing on those skills, abilities and competencies deemed necessary for future leaders within Public Service and Outreach.

Goals and Objectives

For the organization, the Public Service and Outreach Leadership Academy Program will:

• Develop a cadre of people within PSO who understand “the big picture” - PSO, UGA, the land-grant mission, the larger political environment, and the state.
• Develop a cadre of people who are prepared to compete for vacant managerial and leadership positions for the short- or long-term, as the need arises.
• Create a potential pool of faculty and staff who could chair or serve as productive members of PSO and UGA committees and task forces.
• Promote a culture of professional growth and development and self-empowerment within PSO.

For the individual, the Public Service and Outreach Leadership Academy will:

• Increase leadership capacity in all facets of life, both personally and professionally.
• Provide opportunities to improve personal performance and for self-renewal.
• Improve ability to compete for leadership positions.
• Provide networking opportunities, broadening exposure and increasing opportunities for collaboration within PSO and across campus.

The Curriculum

The curriculum for the Public Service and Outreach Leadership Academy is based around six content areas:

• Understanding Leadership
• Understanding Self
• Understanding Others
• Understanding Culture, Mission, Vision
• Understanding Systems/Healthy Organizations
• Understanding the Environment

Who Participates?

Twenty-two participants have been selected by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach according to their experience, tenure at the University, and demonstrated potential. As well, every effort was made to ensure that the group was appropriately gender-balanced and diverse, and included a cross-sectional representation of Public Service and Outreach Units.

2006-2007 Schedule