Academic Leaders Institute (ALI) Competency Model
I. ÌýVisionary Leadership
Engages others to create a shared vision for the future of the unit.
Key Actions:
- Communicates the shared vision in a compelling and inspiring manner.
- Embraces a possibility mentality.
- Anticipates the future of the discipline.
- Is perceptive about the desires and needs of stakeholders (i.e. students, faculty, administration, industry, donors, academic leaders, alumni).
- Is strategic -- able to establish a vision, mission, and goals; and tactical -- able to identify tactics, measurements, and action plans, to achieve a vision.
- Leads change initiatives and is an effective sponsor of change.
- Demonstrates willingness to take risks in the pursuit of excellence and innovation.
- Reflects the culture of service leadership with the heart for and willingness to serve, has a consistent leadership presence, and embodies the value and the role of the academic administrator in such a way that it inspires succession planning.
- Recognize existing strengths and the importance of maintaining these.
II. ÌýEthics and Integrity
Consistently demonstrates the ethical principles and values of the institution and the profession, and models professional conduct with unimpeachable integrity.
Key Actions:ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
- Accepts all that comes with being entrusted with the responsibilities of the institution and its policies and procedures, including the legal, financial, and ethical implications that go with these.
- Articulates the alignment of one’s own values with the organization and the profession.
- Clearly and consistently demonstrates ethical behavior and integrity in all aspects of daily work such as teaching, mentoring, commercialization.
- Provides guidance on, and is a role model of, ethical behavior.
- Fosters trust through the consistent demonstration of integrity.
- Courageously challenges in situations where ethics or integrity are threatened.
- Is scrupulously fair and honest in all interactions.
- Recognizes the principles of conflict of interest and is able to respond appropriately.ÌýÌý
III. ÌýCommunication
Writes, verbally communicates, and demonstrates interpersonal skills in a way that fosters open dialog, builds relationships and advances the work of the unit.
Key Actions:
- Makes clear and convincing presentations, in writing or orally, that achieve their purpose, tailored to the audience.
- Listens perceptively, responding to others in a way that reflects understanding of spoken content and accompanying emotions.
- Knows when and how to hold difficult conversations.
- Expresses thoughts, information and proposals in a clear and convincing manner, in writing or orally.
- Is sophisticated in use of consultation skills, interweaving communication and problem solving with individuals and groups.
- Regularly communicates to advance the work of the unit.
- Models civility, mutual respect, and common courtesies.
- Possesses the appropriate disposition to deal effectively with faculty, administrators, and staff within the college and campus structure and across the institution.
- Demonstrates emotional intelligence and is sensitive and empathetic.
- Treats others with understanding, dignity, and respect; fosters an environment of mutual trust and helps develop a sense of belonging and pride in the university community.
- Is able to discern appropriate method of communication i.e. email, face-to-face meeting, group process.
IV. ÌýBuilding Collegiality
Fosters an environment so that colleagues feel they belong to a community united in a common purpose and respectful of each other’s abilities to work toward that purpose.Ìý
Key Actions:
- Creates a sense of belonging for individuals and camaraderie within the unit.
- Provides transparent leadership, is consistent and predictable, and keeps appropriate parties informed in order to foster a culture of trust.
- Maintains an open door to all constituents encouraging open communication, feedback and discussion.
- Is candid and honest with all, including those above and below in the organization.
- Fosters networking for self and others.
V.ÌýÌýÌýLeading Through Conflict – Managing Conflict
Handles conflict situations effectively, working collaboratively with others to establish common ground.
Key Actions:
- Recognizes diverse viewpoints, brings conflicts into the open and approaches them as opportunities for growth, and involves appropriate parties to find common ground or acceptable alternatives.
- Mediates conflicts, working out tough agreements to settle disputes equitably.
- Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives.
- Analyzes conflict situations to gather data and determine stakeholder interests.
- Is willing to make hard choices and stand firm on decisions, and effectively deals with difficult and disruptive behavior.
- Challenges upper administration with the aim of influencing for the best outcome, while modeling positive attitudes and respect for differing roles and responsibilities.
- Avoids bias and is able to act as a neutral third party without regard to the professional status of the individuals involved in the conflict.
- Understands and holds knowledge of systems available and resources available for conflict management such as policies, campus offices, guideline documents.
- Is perceptive to faculty concepts and able to anticipate conflicts and know when to step in.
- Engages in appropriate record keeping around substantive conflict issues.
VI.ÌýÌýValues and Cultivates an Environment of Diversity and Inclusion
Understands, appreciates, and leverages differences to create value and synergy.
Key Actions:
- Cultivates diversity – values diversity as exhibited in recruiting, hiring and retaining diverse talent, facilitating work, and leveraging the benefits of different perspectives.
- Promotes a supportive and inclusive climate for all by recognizing, valuing and working to actively engage individuals of different ethnic, regional, cultural, economic and religious backgrounds, as well as people who are first-generation immigrants, people with disabilities, people who are parents, people of different sexual and gender identities and expressions, people of different ages, political viewpoints, veteran status, and many others.
- Fosters intercultural competence by shiftingcultural perspective and adapting behavior to cultural commonality and difference.ÌýÌýPossesses a deep cultural self-awareness and deep understanding of the experiences of people from different cultural communities -- in perceptions, values, beliefs, behaviors and practices -- and behaviorally shifts across these various cultural differences.
- Competently addresses issues that arise with students or colleagues.
- Understands institutional resources and responsibilities particularly related to reporting violations.
- Recognizes the role of implicit bias in campus interactions.
VII. ÌýCreative and Strategic Problem Solving
Favors considered action and approaches problem solving with intellectual curiosity, strategic discipline, and a commitment to transformative results.Ìý
Key Actions:
- Frames questions that encourage exploration of problems.
- Utilizes data as a foundation for problem solving and making decisions.
- Utilizes and analyzes data and problems to identify root causes and systemic issues.
- Evaluates solutions before implementation.
- Navigates obstacles and barriers.
- Is adaptable, and models curiosity, perseverance, open-mindedness and flexibility.
- Demonstrates both analytical and strategic thinking.
- Intentionally utilizes collaboration as a method of problem solving.
- Consults with pertinent institutional offices when appropriate (legal, human resources, fiscal accountability offices, research misconduct, Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, Faculty Affairs, Faculty Relations, etc.)
VIII. ÌýDeveloping Self and Others
Develops self and others to meet both career and unit goals.
Key Actions:
- Maximizes the ability of faculty and staff to meet their responsibilities through mentoring, coaching and guidance.
- Possesses keen self-awareness and is a reflective practitioner, prioritizing the work over self and not letting personal ambitions get in the way; is capable of conducting self-evaluation; and is authentic and empathetic.
- Provides support for the development of others through encouragement and fair allocation of resources.
- Listens to and learns from others.
- Is intentional in creating a learning environment for self and others.
- Demonstrates humility, owns mistakes, and fails well.
- Solicits feedback about one’s own leadership performance for self-improvement.
IX. ÌýPlanning, Managing, and Organizing
Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure work is completed efficiently.Ìý
Key Actions:
- Utilizes time effectively – allocates time proportionally to relevant issues, responds promptly and with follow through, is appropriately available, balances waiting with responsiveness. Meets regularly but judiciously, ensuring that meetings are productive.
- Convenes and facilitates effective meetings with well-designed agendas,Ìýholding to decision-making procedureswhile soliciting broad and diverse perspectives,Ìýfacilitating collegial group and interpersonal dynamics, and ensuring collective decisions are communicated and implemented.
- Delegates with empowerment – delegates to appropriate individuals, provides focus and attention to detail, and empowers others with skills and authority.
- Prioritizes and organizes -- clarifies priorities for self and others, determines course of action, and follows up to ensure progress.
- Possesses the ability to make responsive and effective changes to organizational structures.
X. ÌýResource and Financial Management
Understands the academic financial model and leverages this understanding to optimize financial and resource decisions for the department.Ìý
Key Actions:
- Conducts thoughtful analysis of short and long-term departmental resource needs to make key financial and resource decisions and advocates effectively for the unit.
- Understands the academic budget model and process, and decision making authority as well as the meaning and implications of this for the department.
- Understands and oversees the budget management process at the department level and informs decision-making to ensure alignment between unit goals and financial expenditures.
- Attends to appropriate external roles such as advisory boards and advancement.
XI. ÌýUnit, Institutional and Higher Education Knowledge
Provides administrative leadership for the effective functioning of the unit.
Key Actions:
- Possesses knowledge of institutional culture, practices, policies and procedures, andÌýunderstands the values and structure of the academy.
- Understands the interests and needs of all constituents -- students, staff, faculty, donors, industry representatives.
- Understands the role, constraints, agenda and perspectives of others.
- Balances the interests of one’s unit with those of other units and the university as well as the political environment.
- Understands and appreciates the specializations, aspirations, and strengths of faculty and staff in the unit.
- Understands the university infrastructure and utilizes human resource practices, laws, legal guidance, relevant policies, experts and procedures as appropriate.
- Provides intellectual leadership in the development of departmental programs, curriculum, unit hires, and planning in anticipation of the future of the unit.
- Conducts due diligence in matters related to faculty and staff hiring, evaluation, merit and salary issues.
What is the ALI Competency Model?
This Academic Leaders Institute Competency Model is a collection of competencies that define the successful performance of academic leaders at the University of Colorado Boulder. These competencies are the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for successful leadership at CU.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Academic Leaders Institute (ALI) helps academic administrators develop competencies—knowledge, skills, and abilities—needed for successful leadership at CU Boulder. Faculty Relations, in the Office of Faculty Affairs, facilitates ALI by providing Orientation and Onboarding for new academic leaders as well as Ongoing Professional Development for all academic leaders.
The university requires that campuses develop appropriate orientation programs for academic leaders on campus. At CU Boulder, the Provost and Chancellor have designated the Office of Faculty Affairs to create this program.
Often academic leaders are thrown into their new roles with good intentions, and everyone wishing them well. While these faculty may be excellent scholars, they may not have knowledge of, or experience with, leadership. One challenge of training programs is that they often provide too much too soon, and too little too late, either giving information so rapidly, it is like drinking from a firehose or giving information too late to be effective. The goal underlying the model development was to create programming that provides information in a just-in-time fashion, to deliver material and resources at the moment academic leaders need it.
There are several ways to create a competency model; one way originated from what is called star groups. Star groups look at who is doing something best, looking at top performers, and figuring out what is the stuff that they’ve got. What knowledge do they have, what skills do they have, and what abilities do they have that others just don’t have.
Harvard researcher David McCullough discovered this way of creating a competency model in the 1970s. He was studying motivation theory and top performers. He looked at the differences between those who do something well and those who are intelligent and capable but don’t do it as well.
McCullough looked at high achievers, people who were great at their position, and some who were just adequate at it. If you want to know what a person who is good at their work can do, find people who are good at the job, and find out what they know and do. Put another way, identify a group of high performers and find out what knowledge they have, what skill sets they have, and their personal attributes. This method is the foundation of how he developed a competency model and underlies how the ALI competency model was created.
The model development was undertaken carefully and with input from key constituents over 18 months.
The idea of creating a competency model for academic leaders was presented to Provost Russell Moore in Spring 2017. With his approval to develop the model, the creators began by reading the relevant literature and gathering background information of existing leadership models from other universities.
Focus group members were identified based on their experience as successful leaders at CU. Following the path by McCullough, we chose to look at star groups, leaders who were leading best, and we sought to find out what knowledge, skill sets, and personal attributes they had. The Provost named some star performers, identifying individuals who had been academic leaders on this campus for some years and had distinguished themselves in their leadership roles. These academic leaders, seen as capable and top performers, were invited to participate in one of two focus groups.
During the focus groups, these leaders were asked what knowledge, skills, and dispositions are needed to be a successful leader at CU? Their ideas were synthesized into major themes. The first draft of the competency model was developed based upon the themes identified from the focus groups. Each competency was named, a definition was created, and the key behaviors associated with each were described to know what it looks like when someone demonstrates this competency.
The development of the model was an iterative process. The first version of the model was circulated back to the focus group members asking if the model reflected the focus group discussions. Did the model resonate with them? Was there anything missing in the model? Were changes needed? Their feedback, suggestions for additions, deletions, or edits to the competency names, definitions, and behaviors were incorporated into a revision, the second draft of the model.
This second version was subsequently presented to two different groups of academic leaders. One group was members of the Dean’s Council. After explaining the competency model process, we asked for their thoughts on the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be an academic leader at CU. They were provided an opportunity to review the model, and their input and comments were added to the model to create a third draft.
The last step was to share version three with the current academic leaders who participate in the Provost's monthly Chairs and Directors meetings. The process was similar to the one used with the Dean’s Council and asked, at what point in your leadership role do you need this most? For example, at what point are you ready to hear about strategic thinking? We recognized those at the beginning of their leadership term are enmeshed in survival. At what point in time, after being in the role for a while, can you think about being a strategic leader? Is it the first three months, the first 6-9 months, or the first year? We want to know what needs to be known with the greatest urgency or seems to be most appropriate.
Last, we asked our academic leaders who would be the best on our campus to deliver this training? These identified CU faculty and staff have become our campus experts who provide the delivery of our training. At the same time, the Academic Leaders Institute, within the Office of Faculty Affairs, is responsible for implementing this leadership program.
Consensus has been reached; the model is complete. The fourth and final version follows, a comprehensive representation of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be a successful academic leader at CU. The Academic Leaders Institute Competency Model, presented to all academic leaders in August 2018, consists of 11 competencies, their definitions, and descriptions of the key activities or behaviors associated with each competency.
In addition to the model, we used the input from the final review of the model to create a curriculum grid of when to offer various training to help leaders develop these competencies fully. In addition, some competencies are provided through an administrative toolkit.
The Academic Leaders Institute Competency Model helps CU create a pipeline for those thinking of becoming a leader. We encourage those in leader-elect positions to begin attending events in the year before assuming their formal leadership role. When room allows, any faculty member interested in participating in our events is welcomed to attend. The offerings through ALI continue to grow, becoming a more extensive, richer, expanded program. ALI provides Orientation, Onboarding, and Ongoing Professional Development for academic leaders. Orientation is a yearly event offered in the summer before the start of each academic year to support leaders newly appointed in their roles. The orientation content is provided through a two-day synchronous training and asynchronous content access through Canvas. ALI provides onboarding during the academic year, providing a full year of support for our new leaders through a series of events that flushes out the rest of the knowledge academic leaders need to know to carry out their responsibilities. These Getting You Prepared workshops teach what it takes to get up to speed in their new roles to get to higher levels of productively without struggling. Lastly, ALI provides Ongoing Professional Development for continuing academic leaders. Our annual mini-conference focused on current leadership issues. Our trainings teach practical skills, such as holding difficult conversations or holding people accountable, tools to help leaders work more effectively. A series of Innovate Hours cover important ideas in academic leadership and include specific skill-building activities focusing on concrete actions or tools for leaders to use. An Administrative Toolkit provides the basis for the other knowledge and skills not offered through in-person events.