The University of Washington is now accepting nominations for the 2026–2027 Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Academic Leadership Program (ALP) and Department Executive Officer (DEO) programs. These flagship leadership development opportunities help faculty strengthen the skills needed to navigate complex academic environments and support their units more effectively. Administrators are encouraged to share these opportunities with faculty who may be strong candidates.
Building Leadership Capacity Across Research Universities
The BTAA Academic Leadership Program offers a cohort-based, yearlong experience designed to help faculty refine leadership skills, understand institutional decision-making, and address the challenges facing major research universities. Participants engage with academic leaders across BTAA institutions, take part in facilitated development sessions, and return to their home units with new tools and practices that enhance their leadership effectiveness.
The BTAA Department Executive Officer Program provides structured support for current department chairs through peer coaching, collaborative problem solving, and targeted leadership training. Its hybrid format allows chairs to learn from colleagues across institutions while applying new approaches directly within their departments. Fellows from both programs also participate in UW-based sessions that reinforce key learning and foster leadership capacity across the university.
Faculty who take part in these programs consistently report increased confidence in their leadership roles, stronger cross-campus connections, and a deeper understanding of institutional systems. Their participation strengthens UW’s academic leadership pipeline and supports a more resilient academic enterprise.
Nomination Details
Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026
Submission: Email nominations to vpap@uw.edu
Required Documents:
- A cover letter from the dean or chancellor supporting the nominee’s leadership
- A letter of interest from the candidate describing their motivation for participating
- A list of previous leadership programs attended, with dates
- A biographical sketch
Incomplete nominations will not be considered. Candidates should be nominated only if they can commit to attending all program events.
Eligibility Criteria
The Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty requests that each college, school, or campus submit no more than three nominations for each program.
Nominees should:
- Be faculty in one of the UW’s five professorial tracks: tenured, WOT, teaching, research, or professor of clinical practice
- Hold the rank of professor or be an associate professor near promotion
- Demonstrate leadership experience and an interest in further leadership development
- Currently serve or previously serve in a leadership or administrative role, such as Senate chair-elect, department chair, center director, associate chair, or associate dean
For the DEO program specifically, nominees should ideally be department chairs or directors who are two to three years into their roles.
Program Costs
Food and lodging for in-person seminars are supported by the BTAA through UW’s membership dues. Units are asked to cover travel expenses for their Fellows. Selection will be based on a candidate’s potential to apply new knowledge, engage meaningfully in program activities, and contribute to a diverse cohort of Fellows across disciplines and backgrounds.
Program Schedule
Academic Leadership Program (ALP)
- Welcome Session: September 18, 2026, 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. PT (Zoom)
- Seminar I: October 22–24, 2026 at Michigan State University (In Person)
- Seminar II: February 11–13, 2027 at Northwestern University (In Person)
- Seminar III: April 8–10, 2027 at the University of Michigan (In Person)
Department Executive Officer Program (DEO)
- Welcome Session: October 8, 2026, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. PT (Zoom)
- Critical Friends Session A: October 15, 2026, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. PT (Zoom)
- Critical Friends Session B: October 29, 2026, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. PT (Zoom)
- Critical Friends Session C: November 5, 2026, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. PT (Zoom)
- Leadership Workshop: November 11–13, 2026, at the Big Ten Conference Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois
Faculty and administrators are encouraged to share these opportunities broadly within their units. These programs support the continued development of academic leaders who help advance UW’s mission and strengthen the university community.