Overview
Ball State University joins other universities in the Mid- American Conference (MAC) to participate in the Academic Leadership Program (ALDP). The mission of the MAC-ALDP is to identify, develop, prepare, and advance faculty as academic leaders in the Mid-American Conference universities. The program provides an opportunity for Ball State University faculty to gain valuable knowledge and experience in academic leadership by working closely with select administrators from other universities in the MAC.
Up to four outstanding individuals will be selected each year to serve as BSU ALDP Fellows under the mentorship of the Provost-Liaison for the MAC-ALDP. The program has two components:
1.) a university-level development program led by the Provost-Liaison designed for the selected BSU MAC-ALDP fellows, and
2.) participation in MAC-wide workshops for all program participants that will be held virtually as well as select gatherings on one of the MAC campuses. These workshops address topics such as advanced leadership for higher education, conflict resolution, budgeting, accreditation, accountability, and other campus leadership topics.
The goal of this program is to expose faculty who are interested in administration to the challenges and rewards of institutional service and to prepare them for potential leadership positions within the academy. Whether or not a Fellow ultimately chooses to pursue an administrative position in the future, the program will, at a minimum, provide them with a better appreciation for, and understanding of, how universities operate.
Fellowship Year
Each semester, the Fellows will have opportunities to meet with the other BSU Fellows and the Provost-Liaison to discuss relevant professional literature, here from local leaders, plan a project related to administrative leadership, and develop a leadership portfolio to be completed during the fellowship year. In addition, all Fellows are required to attend the MAC-ALDP Workshops that will be scheduled during their fellowship year. Case studies, group discussions and other group activities will be incorporated into the Workshops.
Questions regarding the Academic Leadership Development Program should be directed to:
Thalia M. Mulvihill, Ph.D., Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Faculty Fellow, and Professor of Higher Education & Social Foundations, tmulvihi@bsu.edu
Selection Process
Academic Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Chairs are invited to nominate one individual for an ADLP Fellowship. To be eligible, a nominee must be a tenured faculty member and have a growing record of campus leadership. Nominees are expected to possess strong leadership capacities as well as an outstanding record of achievement in their current and past positions, along with an expressed interest in administrative service.
The nomination must take the form of a letter no more than two pages in length that describes the leadership qualities of the nominee and elaborates upon their contributions to the academic department, unit/division, or university at-large. Each nomination should be accompanied by an application completed by the nominee (see the application below).
The nominating letter and application should be sent (via email) to:
Thalia M. Mulvihill, Ph.D., Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Faculty Fellow, and Professor of Higher Education & Social Foundations, tmulvihi@bsu.edu
The application deadline is: Monday, May 16, 2022 by 5:00pm EST
Decisions will be announced in early June.