Leadership Academy Certificate Program

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What is the Leadership Academy?

The purpose of the Leadership Academy Certificate Program is to provide aspiring and early-career leaders with tools, resources, and a clear path to leadership excellence. This program is ideal for Texas State University faculty and staff who are seeking to shape and strengthen their leadership skills. Due to the highly personalized nature of the program, participation is limited to 20 participants per academic semester. Learn more about eligibility and participation below.

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Why Is Leadership Important?

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Great leaders transform workplace culture, enhance value, improve retention, and engage their employees to deliver better outcomes. This program is a great way for leaders and aspiring leaders to improve their capabilities, inspire others, and achieve outstanding results.

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    • Experience monthly leader presentations
    • Gain a network of contacts and build relationships across campus
    • Receive a free common reading book
    • Learn new, innovative ways of developing and managing people
    • Add new tools, techniques, and resources to your leadership toolkit
    • Apply learned leadership skills to real-time scenarios
    • Develop a leadership presence that reflects greater confidence and capabilities
    • Receive mentoring from senior leaders across campus
    • Take a free personality assessment and debrief with a personal coach

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Eligibility for Participation:

To be eligible for the Leadership Academy, applicants must meet the following criteria:  

  1. Must be a full-time, benefits-eligible employee with at least one year of service prior to the program's start date. 
  2. Must have no disciplinary actions on their employment record.  
  3. Supervisor approval is required to participate.  

Application Process:

The application process includes the following steps:  

  1. Nominees may nominate themselves or another TXST employee may nominate them.  Please Note: The number of nominations does not have an effect on your selection and participation in the program. Only one nomination per applicant will be used in the selection review process.
  2. The Nomination Committee will review eligible applications and make the final selection. 
  3. A total of 20 applicants will be selected for participation.
  4. Supervisors of selected participants will be contacted for participation approval. 

Program Schedule:

All participants will receive a physical handout of the schedule as well as calendar items to their Bobcat email. Program schedule is subject to change. If locations, dates, or times are changed, participants will be given significant notice via email and teams.  

SessionDateTimeTopic
Kick OffTues. January 7 11:00 – 12:30 PM Welcome Cohorts! 
Session 1 Fri. January 10 8:00 – 12:00 PM Communicating as a Leader Pt. 1 
Session 2 Fri. January 24 1:00 – 5:00 PM Communicating as a Leader Pt. 2 
Session 3Fri. February 7 8:00 – 12:00 PM Facing Challenges Pt. 1 
Session 4Fri. February 21 1:00 – 5:00 PM Facing Challenges Pt. 2 
Session 5Fri. March 7 8:00 – 12:00 PM Building Connections Pt. 1 
Session 6Fri. March 21 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM Building Connections Pt. 2 
Session 7Fri. April 4 8:00 – 12:00 PM Leading Psychologically Pt. 1 
Session 8Fri. April 18 8:00 – 12:00 PM Leading Psychologically Pt. 2 
Session 9Fri. May 2 8:00 – 12:00 PM Leading with Confidence Pt. 1 
Session 10Fri. May 16 1:00 – 5:00 PM Leading with Confidence Pt. 2 
GraduationFri. May 23 TBD Congratulations!

What to expect as a Cohort Member:

  1. Attendance: 
    1. To be eligible for graduation from the Leadership Academy, participants are required to attend at least 8 out of 10 sessions. 
  2. Group Reading: 
    1. Cohort members will participate in a group reading, with a selected book* to be discussed during sessions throughout the Academy. Active participation in these discussions with fellow cohort members is expected.
    2. *No purchase is necessary; books will be provided.
  3. 1:1 Sessions with the Facilitator: 
    1. Throughout the program, participants are expected to schedule three one-on-one sessions (via Teams or Zoom) with the Leadership Academy facilitator. These sessions are an opportunity to discuss personal goals, seek guidance, and request any additional resources or support.
  4. University Camp Session:
    1. One session will take place at University Camp in Wimberley. Participants will engage in both physical and mental activities aimed at fostering stronger relationships within the cohort.  
  5. Optional Group Meet-Ups: 
    1. Twice a month, optional group meet-ups will be organized to help cohort members deepen their connections and strengthen their professional network.
      1. Example: The Leadership Academy facilitator will host a “Coffee & Conversation” via Teams or make a lunch reservation at a nearby restaurant. These gatherings are optional but are great opportunities to connect outside of the formal sessions.
      2. Please note that the costs for these optional gatherings will not be covered by the Leadership Academy. 
  6. Additional Resources:
    1. Cohort members will have access to extra resources and optional training sessions throughout the program, including LinkedIn Learning courses. 
      1. While these resources are optional, please note that any completed LinkedIn courses will appear in your SuccessFactors Learning history and be visible to your supervisor.

What a Typical Leadership Academy Session Looks Like:

Each session follows a structured format, with timing adjusted depending on whether it’s a morning or afternoon session. *Daily schedule is subject to change.  

  • Breakfast (or Snacks) & Networking – 15 mins 
  • Welcome & Ice Breaker – 30 mins 
  • Speaker Presentation – 90 mins 
  • Break – 15 mins 
  • Activity – 30 mins 
  • Cohort Networking/Group Discussion – 15 mins 
  • Book Discussion – 30 mins 
  • Closing Remarks – 15 mins 

Leadership Academy Cohort Spring ‘25

Nominations are now open! You can either nominate yourself or be nominated by another TXST employee.  

Nominations for the Spring’ 25 Cohort will close on Friday, November 15th.  

If you’re nominating yourself for participation, please discuss your interest in the program with your supervisor before applying.  
Please note that only one nomination form will be accepted per nominee.  

Questions?

For more information about this program, please contact leaders@txstate.edu or call 5.2557.