UCLA Women’s Community College Leadership Academy (WCCLA)*
*open to people of all gender identities
Mission of the Academy
Community colleges play an essential role in meeting the needs of students whose goals range from personal growth to professional training to university transfer. In meeting these needs, community college leaders face the challenges of administration, curriculum, student support, and culture that may vary by college location and history.
Leaders have confronted uncertainty in many areas including a pandemic, funding fluctuations, policy changes, and changing student enrollment. Flexible and able leadership is needed to meet these challenges across each community college especially from mid-level leaders like deans, faculty, and directors.
The UCLA Women’s Community College Leadership Academy (WCCLA) was designed by community college leaders to strengthen mid-level leadership capacity within community colleges. Cohort members are drawn from California and beyond to participate in the Academy. They are faculty, deans and directors in wide-ranging positions.
Understanding and effectively dealing with the dilemmas confronting community college mid-level leaders is integral to the Academy. These issues include financial pressures and practices, fluctuating student enrollment, equity, and improving student outcomes. Other topics include the impact of social and political polarization, Artificial Intelligence. equity, student enrollment, working with unions, boards, and upper administration Through expert-led workshops, mentoring circles, collaborative problem-solving, and leadership explorations, participants expand their leadership capacities and increase their ability to navigate institutional change. Participants are introduced to critical issues in building relationships and collaborating across campus silos.
Career networking and planning are vital parts of WCCLA. Support and guidance are provided for resumes and CV development, interviewing, and negotiating a new position are covered.
Read about the impact of WCCLA, written by one of the 2025-26 Academy members.
Academic Information
WCCLA is designed to assist mid-level community college leaders to develop their knowledge and leadership capacities. Participants support each other through their mentor circle and learn from others’ community college experiences. 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 expand their impact on their colleges and plan their career trajectories. Workshops focus on topics such as leadership bias, conflict management, negotiation, equity, and problem-solving. Career building focuses on strategies for career expansion and advancement. The functions of vice-presidents are also considered.
The Academy offers a platform to make new colleagues who are knowledgeable about varied community colleges and positions. Members help each other with career planning, workplace dilemmas, and initiating innovations. They are active listeners who understand members’ issues and concerns.
Academy members meet each other in person at UCLA for the first session (Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The other sessions are on Zoom on two Wednesday evenings monthly from November through March. The final WCCLA session is on Zoom on March 20, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.). Members are encouraged to meet and support each other either virtually or in person outside the Academy.
Leadership Across the Community College:
- Leadership flexibility and adaptability in dealing with new and continuing challenges
- Communication and women’s voices
- Collaborating across community college structures for planning and problem-solving
- Leadership bias
Community college issues:
- Managing current and shifting fiscal issues
- Decreasing student enrollment
- Income and educational disparities
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Steering between professional and personal lives
- Governance/collegial consultation
- Equity and resources
Career shaping:
- Career planning
- Interviewing support, resumes, and negotiation after a job offer
The application materials:
- A letter of intent (one page) that includes:
- A brief description of your leadership experience in community colleges.
- Specific topics that are of interest to you.
- A current resume or a CV.
- This application form.
- The application deadline is September 7, 2026 (submit materials to Dr. Linda Rose
at lrose@g.ucla.edu).
Registration fee per person paid by October 23, 2026 – $1,700
Registration fee per person for two or more people from the same community college district – $1,500
Registration fee per person paid after October 23, 2026 – $2,000
Payment can be made by credit card on Cashnet or by check to the Academy.
In-Person Session in Moore Hall at UCLA
- Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. PST
Online Zoom sessions on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. PST
- November 18
- December 9, 16
- January 6, 20, 27
- February 3, 17
- March 3, 17
Final Session (on Zoom)
- Saturday, March 20, 2027, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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