UCLA Women’s Community College Leadership Academy (WCCLA)*
*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
- 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).
Payment Deadline: October 4, 2024
Early Bird registration per person paid by September 28, 2024 – $2000
Registration fee per person – $2,250
Registration fee per person paid by 2 or more registrants working at the same community college – $1,900
Payment may be made by credit card on Cashnet or by check to the Academy
*Additional payment information will be provided after September 10, 2024.
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.
- October 23
- November 6, 20
- December 4, 18
- January 8, 22
- February 12, 19
- March 12
Last Session
Last session – Saturday, March 15, 2025 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at UCLA
Member-to-member conversations organized by participants
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