PLDA FAQs

The PreDoctoral Leadership Academy (PLDA), is a one-year program designed to provide doctoral students from a broad array of academic disciplines with the supplemental knowledge and skills needed for excellence in academic, administrative and organizational leadership.

Approximately 20 students are selected for participation every year.

Students who wish to be considered for participation in the program will need to be nominated by a program director, advisor, department chair, dean, vice-president, or other senior leader who see leadership potential in the nominee. Nominators may nominate more than one individual. Once nominated, the prospective PLDA Fellow will be notified about completing the required application.

Matriculating doctoral students* from New Brunswick, Newark, Camden, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) with an interest in learning more about leadership in higher education are eligible to be nominated. The nominee should be one who has the potential for increased leadership responsibility and achievement within higher education.

* First-year doctoral students, along with those students planning to graduate prior to the completion of the PLDA program, are not eligible to participate. Additionally, individuals with full-time employment at Rutgers University are not eligible to be nominated for PLDA. Full-time Rutgers employees should consider participating in employee-focused leadership development programs sponsored by our Office or other offices at Rutgers.

No. Nominations for participation in the Academy must be submitted by a program director, department chair, dean, vice-president, or other senior leader.

Yes. Using the current nomination form, nominators should submit new nomination materials for prospective PLDA Fellows.

The sessions meet weekly on Friday mornings from 9:00-11:00am following the Rutgers Academic Calendar. A full schedule for the 2024-2025 program will be posted in Summer 2024. Most sessions are conducted virtually via Zoom.

Fellows are expected to attend all sessions. However, we recognize there may be circumstances that may affect a Fellow’s ability to attend all classes and meetings. A PLDA Fellow should not miss more than two sessions during the year-long program. If you do not live locally, you should carefully consider if you will be able to attend class and complete the various on-campus assignments

No. Materials for PLDA class sessions are provided by the Academy.

Fellows’ successful completion of the program will be noted on their academic transcripts.

Nominations for the next Fellow’s cohort will be accepted in April 2024. Decisions will be made in May 2024.