SEC ALDP was established in 2008 and its mission is to identify, prepare and advance future leaders.
- The program includes two on-campus workshops hosted by different SEC universities that bring together fellows from each SEC institution.
- In addition, USC fellows participate in a series of conversations with leaders across the USC Columbia campus and other development activities.
The SEC ALDP is one of several SEC activities that focuses on programs and activities designed to highlight the teaching, research and service accomplishments of SEC students, faculty and staff, including related successes within the Conference’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
For more information, visit the SEC ALDP website or download the mission, vision and goals document [pdf].
SEC ALDP is offered through the Office of the Provost, please visit their website for more information.
ELP (Emerging Leaders Program) prepares early-career, high potential faculty and staff leaders for mid-level leadership positions at USC. This program develops the leader through skill building focused on influence, collaboration and leading self, others, teams, projects, and change management.
New: ELP’s eighth cohort will consist of a balance of faculty and staff (vs. 100% staff) and participation eligibility will be aligned to leader job levels. (See below for eligibility.) These changes will align program education, exposure and experiences to the competency mastery by leader level and foster relationships, mutual respect, and a culture of collaboration across the university. ELP graduates may be nominated to attend PAL in the future as their job level changes.
Executives are encouraged to use their succession plans to guide their endorsement decisions.
ELP is offered through the Division of Human Resources' Organizational and Professional Development Office (HR-OPD) is partially backed by the Provost’s Office.
ELP provides a framework for leadership development that starts at the personal level, increasing self-awareness to better communicate, influence and work with others; and then develops skills for leading teams, projects and change.
Participants gain valuable insights into their own preferences, tendencies and behaviors as leaders by engaging in a series of assessments, including a 360-degree feedback process. Cohort groups learn about the university’s academic and administrative culture and work processes through interaction with the institution’s leadership. Participants create a development plan and review their progress to ensure they are closing skill and behavior gaps necessary for their career advancement.
To participate in this program, the qualified employee must be:
- In good standing and working in a full-time staff position as a University of South Carolina-Columbia employee for a minimum of 6 months.
- Staff job levels Professional (P3-P4) and Manager (M0, M1, M2).
- Faculty job levels will be evaluated by the Provost’s Office for placement in ELP or PAL.
- Available to participate in 85% of the program’s sessions.
- Preferred: LEAD-Supervisory Essentials Certificate of Completion.
24 faculty and staff will be selected through a competitive application and selection process. The review committee strives to create a diverse cohort of proven, high-potential leaders, representing many roles and work settings and departments within colleges and divisions across the university. If you are not accepted this year, please apply again in future years.
Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Selected candidates will be notified by late August. The program’s first session starts on Friday, September 8, 2023.
Complete the form in its entirety to register to apply for ELP and express how you are qualified, ways in which you have demonstrated your readiness to lead and indicate your personal objectives to improve your performance and behavioral outcomes through ELP.The review committee will seek leader endorsements to aid in their final decisions.
Program sessions build on content knowledge.
- Program participants are required to attend at least 85% or more of the leadership sessions that run from September to April to receive a certificate of completion.
- Participants are also required to participate in peer group coaching sessions and a project that may involve additional time outside of the scheduled leadership sessions.
- Participants will also participate in a 360° feedback process that includes an individual coaching session to create a personal SWOT and an Individual Development Plan based upon the 360° feedback process, other program assessment results and ongoing coaching conversations.
A non‐refundable fee of $500 is charged to the department if the applicant is selected to participate. This fee is used solely to cover ELP expenses including speaker fees, training materials, assessments and other costs. The total cost of the program has been partially backed by the Provost’s Office to make it affordable and accessible to all colleges and divisions.
Attendance Requirement: at least 85% session attendance is required for successful ELP completion. Please apply another year if you cannot commit to the dates below.
All sessions will be held in-person at 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 101 unless otherwise noted. Sessions will not be streamed nor recorded for off-site/remote viewing.
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Session 1 |
Friday, September 8, 2023 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 2 |
Friday, September 22 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 3 |
Friday, November 3 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 4 |
Friday, December 1 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 5 |
Friday, January 26, 2024 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 6 |
Friday, March 1 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 7 |
Friday, March 15 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Session 8 |
Friday April 12 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
|
Weather Makeup Day |
Thursday, May 2 |
9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Contact Cindy Wentz, Assistant Director for Organizational Development at cwentz@mailbox.sc.edu for additional information regarding ELP.
ELA is the university’s leadership acceleration program designed to create diverse leadership pipelines and prepare high-potential, high-talented, mid-level, underrepresented leaders for executive-level leadership positions in higher education. ELA occurs in addition to PAL participation and not as a substitution. ELA participants receive targeted executive leadership education, gain valuable exposure through their work on a university project, and receive personalized coaching and mentoring.
PAL participants who apply and are accepted will participate in ELA’s second cohort.
ELA is a no-cost university-wide initiative sustained by an advisory committee and led by ELA’s creator, Mary Alexander in the Office of the Provost.
ELA consists of the following three elements:
Participants attend PAL and ELA monthly professional development sessions over the course of the year. Participants receive all of the PAL education, experiences and exposure in addition to leadership development programming specifically designed to address barriers that exist for underrepresented leaders.
For this element of the program, participants are required to work on a project over the course of three years.
The project must impact some facet of the institution, whether it be their department, division or institution.
There are two tracks available:
- Enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion
- Innovation
Note: As part of the application process for ELA, participants are required to describe their intended project and its perceived impact.
Project Time Line
In the first year of the program, participants plan and develop the implementation of the project. Participants meet with members of the advisory committee, members of their cohort, and their mentors to discuss the project for additional guidance and professional development.
In the second year, participants are required to launch the project and evaluate its performance. A detailed report must be provided to the advisory board no later than March following the graduation.
In the third year, participants become a project mentor to the next executive leadership academy participants.
For this element of the program, each participant has two mentors they will work with over the course of three years.
First Mentor
The first mentor is a University of South Carolina executive who is closely matched with the participant's area of interest. Participants observe their leadership styles and effectiveness, decision-making and interaction with colleagues.
This mentorship is structured and participants are required to achieve specific milestones during this part of the program.
Second Mentor
The second mentor is a woman in a leadership position outside of the University of South Carolina.
This mentorship is more organic. There are not any formalized milestones that must be achieved, but there must be at least monthly communication.
ELA participants must meet the eligibility requirements of PAL and additional, noted below.
- In good standing and working in a full-time staff position as a University of South Carolina-Columbia employee for a minimum of 6 months.
- Staff job levels Manager (M3, M4) and Director and Executive (E0, E1) with proven responsibility and accountability over at least one of the following areas:
- Managing a team of five or more people OR
- Providing direction/oversight to program, system or large project.
- Faculty must be tenured or full professor.
- Available to participate in 85% of the program’s sessions.
Application Process
To apply for the Executive Leadership Academy, please submit all of the following items to Dr. Mary Alexander (malexand@mailbox.sc.edu) by September 8, 2023.
- CV or resume
- Two reference lettersfrom either a leader within your organizational structure, a colleague or an employee you supervise
- An essay describing what you hope to learn through your involvement in the program and details on your proposed project.
Below are some key points to include in your essay:
- How do your current or past positions help you with this program?
- How does this program connect to your larger employment and/or life goals?
- What project do you propose to undertake within your department, college or institution? (Be specific)
- How does this project or activity provide a way for you to develop as a leader?
- What metrics will you use to ensure it was a successful project?
The essay should be no more than 2 pages, single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-font, 1-inch margins. Essays that are merely a list of separate answers to these questions will not be competitive.
Selection Process
The advisory committee will interview selected applicants and announce the cohort prior to the October 27, 2023, session.
All sessions will be held in-person at 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 101.
ELA-specific session times and dates will be updated soon.
| Session | Date |
|---|---|
|
Session 1 |
Friday, September 29, 2023 |
|
Session 2 |
Friday, October 27 |
|
Session 3 |
Friday, December 8 |
|
Session 4 |
Friday, January 12, 2024 |
|
Session 5 |
Friday, February 2 |
|
Session 6 |
Friday, February 16 |
|
Session 7 |
Friday, March 22 |
|
Session 8 |
Tuesday, April 23 |
Chair
Dr. Mary Alexander, Assistant Provost and Chief of Staff
Members
Ms. Caroline Agardy, Vice President for Human Resources
Dr. Jeannette Andrews, Dean of the College of Nursing
Dr. Shelley Dempsey, Assistant Provost for Graduation and Retention
Dr. Deborah Hazzard, Darla Moore School of Business
Associate Dean and Faculty
Ms. Kim Pruitt, Division of Human Resources
Director for Organizational Development
Ms. La Trice Ratcliff-Small, Office of Institutional Research Assessment, and Analytics
Manager of Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chancellor Emeritus, Special Advisor to the Committee
Contact Dr. Mary Alexander (malexand@mailbox.sc.edu) in the Office of the Provost regarding additional information about ELA.
The LEAD (Supervisory Essentials) program, is required for all supervisors of University staff hired into a supervisory position after January 1, 2010 (Policy HR 1.51 [pdf]) and must be completed within 18 months of being hired into a supervisory position.
- LEAD: Leading at USC/Writing Position Descriptions must be completed first.
- Participants will have two opportunities to pass a comprehensive, open-note final exam with a score of at least 80% to achieve their LEAD certificate.
- LEAD is for supervisors of staff and HR Contacts; non-supervisors may not attend LEAD.
Program curriculum:
- Class 1: Leading at USC and Writing Position Descriptions (2.5 hours – Prerequisite)
- Class 2: Hiring at USC (2.5 hours)
- Class 3: Interviewing and Selecting Employees (2.5 hours)
- Class 4: Flexing Your Leadership Style (2 hours)
- Class 5: Setting Expectations and Coaching (3 hours)
- Class 6: Tackling Difficult Conversations (2 hours)
- Class 7: Managing Expectations (3 hours)
Browse the HR-OPD training calendar or class list by subject to register for a course. Both online and in-person training courses will be offered.
Track your LEAD certificate progress through the Certificate Checklist. HR-OPD will send out quizzes and certificates of completion on a monthly basis. Graduates are recognized in the monthly HR Supervisor Newsletter based on their completion date.
LEAD: Supervisory Essentials is offered through the Division of Human Resources' Organizational and Professional Development Office (HR-OPD). If you have any questions about this program, please email hrtrain@mailbox.sc.edu.
PAL prepares mid-level, high-talented, faculty and staff leaders for executive-level leadership positions in higher education. The program develops the participant with executive leadership education that includes opportunities for self-reflection and individual goal setting, critical skill building to lead and inspire others in achieving college/division goals, and strategies to solve executive-level challenges and transform organizations.
New: PAL’s ninth cohort will consist of a balance of faculty and staff (vs. 80/20) and participation eligibility will be aligned to leader job levels. (See below for eligibility.) These changes will align program education, exposure and experiences to the competency mastery by leader level and foster relationships, mutual respect, and a culture of collaboration across the university. ELP graduates may be nominated to attend PAL in the future as their job level changes.
PAL participants who apply and are accepted will participate in ELA’s second cohort. ELA is an interactive program that occurs in addition to PAL participation and not as a substitution. ELA is an acceleration program designed to create diverse leadership pipelines and prepare high-potential, high-talented, mid-level, underrepresented leaders for executive-level leadership positions in higher education. (see ELA for more details)
PAL is offered through the Division of Human Resources’ Office of Organizational and Professional Development in partnership with the Office of the Provost’s Faculty Development.
PAL provides a framework for leadership development that starts at the personal level, increasing self-awareness to better communicate, influence and work with others; and then develops skills for leading teams and organizations.
Participants gain valuable insights into their own preferences, tendencies and behaviors as leaders by engaging a series of assessments, including a 360-degree feedback process. Cohort groups learn about the university’s academic and administrative culture and work processes through interaction with the institution’s leadership.
To qualify for the PAL program, academic and administrative leaders must meet the eligibility requirements below and be nominated by their dean or vice president.
- In good standing and working in a full-time staff positionas a University of South Carolina-Columbia employee for a minimum of 6 months.
- Staff job levels Manager (M3, M4) and Director and Executive (E0, E1).
- Faculty job levels will be evaluated by the Provost’s Office for placement in ELP or PAL.
- Available to participate in 85% of the program’s sessions.
- Preferred: LEAD-Supervisory Essentials Certificate of Completion
Nominations for faculty leaders must be submitted to Dr. Mary Ann Fitzpatrick (fitzpatm@mailbox.sc.edu) in the Provost’s Office and nominations for administrative leaders to Kim Pruitt (kpruitt2@mailbox.sc.edu) in the Division of Human Resources’ Office of Organizational and Professional Development by Tuesday, August 30, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Selected candidates will be notified by late August/early September. The program’s first session starts on Friday, September 29, 2023.
- In order to receive a certificate of completion, program participants are required to attend 85% or more of the leadership sessions.
- Participants are also required to participate in peer group coaching sessions, and a project that may involve additional meeting time outside of the scheduled leadership sessions.
- A 360° feedback process is conducted which requires participants to meet with a coaching mentor from the Organizational and Professional Development Office to discuss the results. An Individual Development Plan [pdf] is created based upon the 360° feedback process and coaching conversations.
A non‐refundable fee of $500 is charged to the department if the applicant is selected to participate. This fee is used solely to cover Pipeline for Academy Leaders Program expenses including speaker fees, training materials, assessments and other costs. The total cost of the program has been has been partially backed by the Provost’s Office to make it affordable and accessible to all colleges and divisions.
Attendance Requirement: at least 85% session attendance is required for successful PAL completion. Please apply another year if you cannot commit to the dates below.
All sessions will be held in-person at 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 101 unless otherwise noted. Sessions will not be streamed nor recorded for off-site/remote viewing.
Sessions will start at 9:00 am and end at 4:00 pm except on ELA days in which they will end at 1:00 pm.
| Session | Date |
|---|---|
|
Session 1 |
Friday, September 29, 2023 |
|
Session 2 |
Friday, October 27 |
|
Session 3 |
Friday, December 8 |
|
Session 4 |
Friday, January 12, 2024 |
|
Session 5 |
Friday, February 2 |
|
Session 6 |
Friday, February 16 |
|
Session 7 |
Friday, March 22 |
|
Session 8 |
Tuesday, April 23 |
Contact Kim Pruitt, Director of Organizational and Professional Development within the Division of Human Resources, at 803-403-7370 or kpruitt2@mailbox.sc.edu for additional information regarding PAL.
Vice presidents, provosts, deans and chancellors are expected to create and maintain succession plans for all senior executive and pivotal positions in their areas of responsibility.
- Succession plans should be reviewed and updated biennially or 6-12 months after a significant change. The Division of Human Resources will send out an annual reminder. All plans are subject to periodic review and audit by the Office of Audit and Advisory Services.
Use these tools to help develop your senior executive and pivotal position succession plans.
Designed for University faculty and staff who supervise student employees on the Columbia campus. Courses available:
- Student Employee Recruitment - Finding and selecting student employees is vital to the success of an on-campus organization. This training covers the process of developing job descriptions/announcements, recruiting student employees, interviewing, and documentation of the selection process. Identify key terms and methods of creating an on-campus job description and gain skills on developing an ethical and intentional recruitment plan. Participants learn how to utilize Handshake, USC’s on-campus job platform.
- Student Hiring and Onboarding - Once a candidate accepts a position, supervisors transition to the hiring phase and begin onboarding and initial training with student employees. Learn best practices for student hiring and onboarding. Create a meaningful, timely, and impactful student hiring experience, identify new methods of organization for student hiring and develop a streamlined plan for onboarding them.
- The Balance of Care and Accountability - Understand the role of the Care Team on USC's campus and how to refer a student of concern and identify behaviors that indicate distress. Learn the resources available to support students in need and helping skills to support students who are in distress.
- Risk Management and Emergency Response - Does your unit have policies or training developed for risk management? If not, join us for a training surrounding risk management within student employment and how to best prepare your team for emergency response. Identify areas of need within individual units and learn how to develop emergency response plans and gain new methods of training student employees.
Courses are offered through the Division of Human Resources’ Organizational and Professional Development Office (HR-OPD) in collaboration with USC’s Student Career Center and the Office of Student Conduct. Browse the HR-OPD training calendar or class list by subject to register for a course.