About the Academic Leadership Program
The Academic Leadership Program provides education, support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for faculty members in leadership roles at the University of Waterloo.
Run by a tenured faculty member with extensive administrative experience, the program aims to facilitate the development of knowledge, skills, and relationships that contribute to effective academic leadership at Waterloo.
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Martin Cooke
Martin Cooke, Assistant Vice-President, Academic – Leadership and Strategic Initiatives
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Three Pillars of the Academic Leadership Program
Administrative Knowledge
Knowledge of Waterloo-specific contextual factors that affect our work as academic leaders, including:
- Leadership roles and authority across the University
- Legislative and regulatory context
- Policies and procedures and how to apply them effectively
- Units that support academic leaders
Leadership Competencies
Effective leadership requires specific skills distinct from administrative knowledge. The program aims to help academic leaders understand and develop leadership skills in the following domains:
- Effective decision-making
- Leadership communication
- Planning and change management
- Mentorship and team development
Networking and Mentorship
The Academic Leadership Program is an opportunity for academic leaders to meet others at Waterloo who can support them in their work, including the following:
- Peers in similar roles from across the university
- More experienced leaders
- Potential leadership mentors
Events
Waterloo Leadership Academy (Day 3)
The Waterloo Leadership Academy is now open for registration. The Waterloo Leadership Academy is an in-person intensive retreat for Waterloo academic leaders and is set to take place across three days from May 7 to May 9th, 2025 at the Stratford campus. Intended primarily for department chairs and school directors, the Academy provides highly engaging executive education and opportunities for interaction with colleagues from across campus. Topics to be covered include Leadership, Change Management, Negotiation, Leading Team Decision-making, Thinking Strategically, and more.
Please click on the session title for details about Waterloo's Leadership Academy.
Waterloo Leadership Academy (Day 2)
The Waterloo Leadership Academy is now open for registration. The Waterloo Leadership Academy is an in-person intensive retreat for Waterloo academic leaders and is set to take place across three days from May 7 to May 9th, 2025 at the Stratford campus. Intended primarily for department chairs and school directors, the Academy provides highly engaging executive education and opportunities for interaction with colleagues from across campus. Topics to be covered include Leadership, Change Management, Negotiation, Leading Team Decision-making, Thinking Strategically, and more.
Please click on the session title for details about Waterloo's Leadership Academy.
Waterloo Leadership Academy (Day 1)
The Waterloo Leadership Academy is now open for registration. The Waterloo Leadership Academy is an in-person intensive retreat for Waterloo academic leaders and is set to take place across three days from May 7 to May 9th, 2025 at the Stratford campus. Intended primarily for department chairs and school directors, the Academy provides highly engaging executive education and opportunities for interaction with colleagues from across campus. Topics to be covered include Leadership, Change Management, Negotiation, Leading Team Decision-making, Thinking Strategically, and more.
Please click on the session title for details about Waterloo's Leadership Academy.
Tenure, Permanence and Promotion- Support group for Chairs and Directors
Attend the Academic Leadership Program's breakfast session on Waterloo's Tenure, Permanence, and Promotion Process. 2025 is an interesting year to be a Department Chair at Waterloo as it is the first time Chairs will receive files for permanence and promotion of teaching stream faculty.
Please secure your spot for this session by registering.
MANAGE: How to Reduce Thoughtload, Unlock Capacity, and Support Your Team in Times of Change
Join us for two sessions with Dr. Liane Davey, psychologist and expert in workplace dynamics. Liane is the author of The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get your Team and Organization Back on Track, and many of you expressed your appreciation of Liane’s two sessions last year on managing conflict. She is a UW alum and knows us well. We have invited Liane back to help support our academic leaders in times of change.
Understanding Unit Responsibilities: Safety and Accommodation
Among the legislated responsibilities of the university, we are required to provide a safe environment for learning and working and one which is free from discrimination, harassment, and violence and to accommodate students who have a disability. It is important for leaders of academic units and supervising employees, and those working directly with students to understand what it means to meet these obligations. In this session, we will learn about two sets of responsibilities. Kate Windsor, Director of Safety will discuss the role of units in ensuring compliance with legislation, programs and standards, particularly Policy 34 and the Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS). Jennifer Gillies, Vice Associate Provost, Campus Support and Accessibility will build awareness around our obligations stemming from the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and other statutory requirements, noting the supports available to uphold these requirements, describe our duty to accommodate as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the limits to student accommodation. Both will be available to answer questions and to direct you to additional supports. Breakfast provided.
Leading Change Part 1 with Liane Davey
Join us for two sessions with Dr. Liane Davey, psychologist and expert in workplace dynamics. Liane is the author of The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get your Team and Organization Back on Track, and many of you expressed your appreciation of Liane’s two sessions last year on managing conflict. She is a UW alum and knows us well. We have invited Liane back to help support our academic leaders in times of change.
Let’s Talk About the Budget: support for academic leaders
As we formulate a plan to bring the operating budget back to balance, we know that there are questions and uncertainty. We want to support academic leaders in making decisions and responding to their colleagues’ questions and concerns and to hear about the issues that leaders are facing in their units. Join Martin Cooke and Mark Weber for an open discussion and mutual support in this challenging moment. Light lunch provided.
Faculty Performance Reviews: Chairs’ and Directors’ Support Group
Among other things, December is the month that chairs’ and directors’ minds turn to the faculty performance review process. Join us for breakfast with supportive colleagues and a Q&A with experienced chairs/directors and FAUW. Topics will include writing effective comments, supporting pre-tenure and teaching stream faculty members, and recognizing service contributions.
Receiving Complaints: Policies, Practices and People who can Help
Receiving a complaint about a faculty colleague can be a very challenging situation for a chair. In this session, you will be provided tools and approaches to help chairs and directors feel more confident when dealing with these situations. Panel members from Legal and Immigration Services, the Sexual Violence and Response Office, Conflict Management and Human Rights, FAUW and the AVP Faculty Relations office will address dealing with issues that might involve Policy 33, Policy 42 and/or the MoA, in a workshop using cases and examples.