Faculty Learning Community (FLC)

2026-2027 Faculty Learning Community on Academic Leadership

Request for Applications
Due: May 8, 2026, 5 pm

The Faculty Learning Community on Academic Leadership (FLC) which began in 2014 with a grant from the Chancellor’s Office was part of the President Soraya Coley’s Leadership Excellence Initiative at Cal Poly �ǿմ�ý. It is now housed in the Office of Faculty Affairs and the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE). The program strengthens the leadership pipeline by providing training and mentoring for faculty members interested in exploring various leadership opportunities, including department chair, and leading major committees at the department, college, and university levels. Participants meet several times during each academic semester to discuss topics and engage in self-growth activities related to higher education, the rewards and challenges of academic leadership, and thriving in leadership positions.

A total of 97 faculty members have participated in the FLC, which was first developed and facilitated by Dr. Shanthi Srinivas, Presidential Fellow for Leadership Excellence for Institutional Development through May 2021 and was facilitated by Dr. Lisa Kessler, Professor Emeritus and former Interim Dean and Associate Dean of the Huntley College of Agriculture from 2021 through 2026. Many participants have pursued their career goals and now serve as department chairs, associate deans, and directors. Many others are contributing to the success of the university by taking on leadership roles in shared governance, including serving as Academic Senate Chair. The 2026-2027 FLC will be organized and facilitated by Dr. Cheryl Koos, Associate Vice President of Faculty Affairs, and Dr. Marisela Chávez, Executive Director of Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE).

The FLC exemplifies Cal Poly �ǿմ�ý's commitment to leadership excellence and its efforts to strengthen leadership capacity to facilitate continued student success. The skills necessary for academic leadership positions are demanding, but learnable. This FLC provides leadership skills development in the form of in-depth, collegial explorations of the long-term leadership opportunities and needs on this campus.

Objectives for the FLC include:

Increase faculty confidence and skills for serving in University leadership positions by exploring three areas: higher education and CPP, self-awareness, and interpersonal relationships
Career planning for faculty
Leadership training with a college- and university-perspective for those interested in exploring leadership opportunities on campus

Meeting Schedule and Topics

During the 2026-2027 academic year, there will be at least 6 in-person meetings (usually 3 in the fall and 3 in the spring), scheduled on select Fridays from 9 am – 1 pm.

There may be additional meetings with guest speakers. For each FLC meeting, an agenda, specific meeting outcomes, preparatory activities, and deliverables will be communicated in a timely fashion. We plan the following topical arc, but depending upon the interests of the group, details and specific readings may change. We will use a Canvas organization for materials and communication.

Fall 2026: Broad view of the university and its place in the higher education map

Main readings: Reframing Academic Leadership, 2^nd, by Lee Bolman and Joan Gallos
Main deliverable: Initial vision statement for academic leadership

Spring 2027: Self-awareness and specific skills for leadership enhancement

Main reading: Selected articles from the Chronicle of Higher Education, other journals, and modules from CPP Employee and Organizational Development and Advancement. Topics include self-awareness and well-being, working well with others, and conflict management.
Main deliverable: Personal experiential leadership action plan and Career development plan

Who Should �ǿմ�ý?

This FLC is for CPP faculty from any discipline who are past the “new faculty” stage (defined by the applicant), who want to think deeply about the leadership needs on this campus, explore, and enhance their leadership potential, and who may be interested in entering the leadership pipeline on campus, based on a shared vision of the value of leadership on campus.

Please ensure that you are able to devote the time to participate in meetings, to prepare for the meetings by doing the readings, and to generate the main deliverables.

Benefits

The intangible benefits of this FLC are important. A faculty learning community provides the opportunity to think deeply in the company of faculty colleagues who challenge and support one another. FLC members will receive all books and materials, plus breakfast/lunch if meetings are scheduled during mealtimes.

Criteria:

The main criteria to participate in this FLC are to be willing to engage fully in the learning community and to be able to devote the necessary time. This FLC has funding to support up to 12 faculty members. The final selection will include considerations of diversity in discipline, faculty career stage, and other perspectives.