UCLA Women’s Community College Leadership Academy (WCCLA)* - UCLA School of Education & Information Studies

*open to people of all gender identities

Mission of the Academy

The Women’s Community College Leadership Academy (WCCLA) is an innovative program designed to help mid-level leaders tackle critical issues currently facing California Community Colleges. It is constructed for full-time faculty and mid-level administrators in academic, student and administrative services. The Academy focuses on increasing the capacity of participants to effectively lead and collaborate in times of change and improve outcomes at their own colleges. The Academy assists members to hone their leadership skills and shape their leadership trajectories.

Community college leaders developed the Academy for mid-level community college faculty and administrators to respond to 21st century challenges and dilemmas facing community colleges. Community Colleges serve the needs of students affected by increasing income inequality and poverty, K-12 dual-enrollment students, veterans, foster youth, and students who did not succeed in K -12 education. They focus on the needs of students who seek to transfer to a four-year university, earn a career technical education degree or certificate, or have personal learning goals.

The objectives are compounded by decreasing budgets. Colleges must secure more resources, promote equity, boost student enrollment and retention, increase work on Guided Pathways, recruit and encourage excellence in faculty and staff. Successful mid-level leaders are critical to accomplishing these goals. They must be effective communicators who can collaborate across varied community college units and functions.

Academic Information

WCCLA is designed to help mid-level community college leaders effectively lead teams and members promote collaboration across units. Participants collaborate on a projects at their different colleges and meet in mentor circles to support each other and to exchange information and ideas about their work. Participants use a consultancy process to assess problems and generate potential solutions.

Session facilitators/instructors are expert community college practitioners with the knowledge and experience to help members to hone their own leadership practices.

Sessions cover six critical community colleges issues described above.

The Academy offers a platform for participants to increase their understanding of their own leadership options and methods with workshops on communication, negotiation, collaboration, and problem-solving. Career building is spotlighted with strategies for personal growth and career advancement.

Academy members meet in-person at UCLA during the first session (October 19) and last WCCLA session (March 15). Other sessions are on some Wednesday evenings, October – March. Members are encouraged to meet outside of the Academy virtually or in- person.

The Women’s Community College Leadership Academy focuses on tackling six critical issues:

Recruiting and sustaining faculty and staff
Fiscal Challenges
Decreasing student enrollment
Social and political polarization
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The Academy highlights in-person and virtual learning in small and larger groups. Each participant belongs to a mentor circle that promotes learning and support.

Leadership Knowledge and Capacities Across the Community College:

Flexibility in dealing with new and continuing challenges
Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader (Herminia Ibarra)
Strategic planning and negotiation
Aligning leadership skills to the critical issues; challenges
Understanding financial issues
Communicating, Women’s voices
Problem-solving
Collaboration
360° leadership

Six critical community colleges issues:

Recruiting and sustaining faculty & staff
Fiscal challenges
Decreasing student enrollment
Social and political polarization
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Career shaping:

Branding and career planning
Interviews, resumes, and negotiation after a job offer
Networking

Application Materials

The application materials.

A letter of intent that includes: a brief description of your leadership experience at a community college, short-term and long-term goals for participation in the UCLA Women’s Community College Leadership Academy, and specific topics that are of interest to you.
A current resume or a CV.
This application form.

The application deadline is September 7, 2024 (submit materials to Dr. Linda Rose at lrose@g.ucla.edu).

Registration fee per person paid by October 10 – $2100
Registration fee per person for 2 or more people from the same community college district –
$1800
Registration fee per person paid after October 10 – $2250

Payment may be made by credit card on Cashnet or by check to the Academy

First Session

Saturday, October 19, 2024 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at UCLA

Zoom Sessions

Ten Wednesday 2024/25 Zoom Sessions, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.