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2025 Cardinal Leadership Institute Applications!

Are you interested in furthering your leadership development and meeting a community of supportive peers who are also university leaders?

Being successful - and a great place to learn, discover, connect and work - depends on a network of university leaders with the skills and wisdom to carry us forward. To support the development and growth of leaders at the university, the Employee Success Center in partnership with the College of Education & Human Development has created the Cardinal Leadership Institute. The institute was designed with the university’s vision in mind and to cultivate new and emerging university leaders who understand the university's vision and can effectively foster our growth.

The Cardinal Leadership Institute is accepting applications for the 2025 cohort. Running from January to the end of May 2025, this robust institute provides graduates with a certificate of achievement, the equivalent of three academic courses in Organizational Leadership and Learning, and a new network of colleagues.

 Interested? 

Attend one of our upcoming Cardinal Leadership Institute Interest Sessions to learn more! You will have the opportunity to hear from the Employee Success Center, the institute faculty, and Cardinal Leadership Institute alumni. Register for a virtual session below:

Who can participate?

The Cardinal Leadership Institute is available to University of Louisville faculty and staff who meet the requirements listed. Preference will be given to employees with the job title of assistant or associate directors, directors or similar or above with three years’ experience in their role. All are welcome to apply.

How much does it cost?

Participants will use their employee tuition remission benefit to cover the cost of the institute and will complete an online form to be admitted to the university as a non-degree seeking student as part of the registration process. Participants must be tuition remission eligible and not using their credit hours for other courses at the same time they are participating in the institute.

A registration fee of $600 (non-refundable and non-deferable) will be charged to the employee’s home department, which is used by the Employee Success Center to cover student fees, books and other course materials.

 Benefits to the participants

  • Content you can apply directly and immediately to your daily university role, grounded in the Cardinal Principles and strategic plan.  Learning experiences that help you grow as a UofL leader
  • A new cohort of like-minded peers who are learning/building their leadership skills and applying their knowledge to real university situations, and whom you can call upon throughout your career
  • Instructors who are thought leaders in the field and seasoned university professionals
  • Nine undergraduate credit hours that can be applied to future educational goals. Institute staff will process your application and tuition remission credits for you

 

 Topics covered

  • Supporting Organizational Change
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Leadership
  • Coaching and Talent Management
  • Strategic Plan
  • University Culture/Values
  • Cardinal Principles

2025 Details

Commitment required

  • Institute participants will meet each Wednesday from January through the end of May 2025 from 8:30am-12:30pm, with the exception of the May sessions that will meet Wednesdays from 8:30am-4:30pm. (see the detailed schedule below)
  • Additional asynchronous work (on your own) will be possible for up to one hour a week, although most assignments will be completed during class time. This should not be expected to be completed beyond the participant’s normal working hours.

Application requirements

  • Completion of an application and a personal statement on why you are interested in participating
  • A nomination from your supervisor that includes their commitment to allowing your full participation weekly from January 2025 through May 2025
  • Upon acceptance to the Cardinal Leadership Institute, applicants will complete an application for Continuing Studies with assistance from the Employee Success Center (fee will be waived for institute participants)

Cardinal Leadership Institute faculty

Dr. Matt Bergman and Dr. Quanta Taylor, Organizational Leadership and Learning, along with Brian Buford and Meagan West, Employee Success Center

Institute Schedule

Each session will meet on Wednesdays. The program will follow the university add/drop schedule.

The 2025 CLI schedule is as follows:

  • Part 1: Supporting Organizational Change
    • 8:30am-12:30pm
        • January 8 (in-person)
        • January 15 (virtual)
        • January 22 (virtual)
        • January 29 (virtual)
        • February 5 (virtual)
        • February 12 (virtual)
        • February 19 (virtual)
        • February 26 (virtual)
  • Part 2: Leadership and Management
    • 8:30am-12:30pm
        • March 5 (in-person)
        • March 12 (Spring Break, NO SESSION HELD)
        • March 19 (virtual)
        • March 26 (virtual)
        • April 2 (virtual)
        • April 9 (virtual)
        • April 16 (virtual)
        • April 23 (in-person)

 Part 3: Coaching and Talent Development

    • 8:30am-4:30pm in-person
        • May 7
        • May 14
        • May 21
  • Cardinal Leadership Institute Celebration will be held on May 28th.

Recap of requirements to participate in the 2025 Cardinal Leadership Institute

  • Job title of assistant/associate director or similar with three years and above in current role (All are welcome to apply)
  • Eligible for tuition remission and not enrolled in any other credit hours at UofL at the same time as the Cardinal Leadership Institute
  • Commitment to fully attend the scheduled sessions (Wednesdays from 8:30am to 12:30 pm January-April & 8:30am-4:30pm May 2025)
  • Nomination and affirmation from your supervisor with their commitment to allow your full participation

Application links

2025 CLI Application (deadline is November 1st)

2025 CLI Supervisor Nomination