RLA FAQs

The RLA is a leadership development program designed for mid-career faculty and staff (individuals with approximately 7 years of professional experience) from across the University with an interest in learning more about the core concepts and competencies associated with leadership in higher education. The 2019-2020 program topics can be found here. 

ALP-RBHS is a leadership development program designed for Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) faculty administrators with less than two years of experience in the role, or established faculty administrators seeking to enhance their personal leadership capacity. The program focuses on addressing the challenges and opportunities that are unique to academic health centers. The 2019-2020 program topics can be found here.

For purposes of nomination to the RLA, mid-career is defined as a person with 7 or more years of scholarly/professional experience. The nominee should be one who has potential for increased leadership responsibility and achievement within higher education.

Approximately 30 individuals will be selected for participation in any given year. 

Nominations for participation in the Academy must be submitted by VPs, deans, directors, chairs or other senior leaders who see potential for greater leadership in the nominee. Senior leaders may nominate more than one individual. Once nominated, the prospective RLA Fellow will be notified about completion of the necessary online nominee information to be considered. 

Mid-career faculty and staff (individuals with approximately 7 years of professional experience) from New Brunswick, Newark, Camden, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) are eligible to be nominated. The nominee should be one who has potential for increased leadership responsibility and achievement within higher education. 

No. Nominations for participation in the Academy must be submitted by VPs, deans, directors, chairs or other senior leaders who see potential for greater leadership in the nominee. 

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

Typically, the nominator will serve as a project sponsor. However, a nominator and sponsor need not be the same person. Designation of a project sponsor will be required toward the end of the first semester at the time the Fellow’s project is identified. Sponsors must be current Rutgers University employees with the ability to serve as advisors and mentors for the projects and participate in selected RLA meetings/events towards the end of the academic year. 

Toward the end of the first semester, each Fellow, in conjunction with his/her nominator/sponsor, will identify a project of importance to a unit, outside the Fellow’s unit, or the broader campus. These projects are intended to provide a context for applying and furthering the development of leadership competencies, while meaningfully addressing significant needs of the institution. For the purposes of this program, Fellows will only be responsible for the design of the project proposal, with encouragement to implement the project upon completion of the program. 

The sessions meet on Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00 pm in New Brunswick, roughly twice a month throughout the one-year program period. A full schedule for the 2021-2022 program will be posted in Spring 2021. 

Fellows are expected to attend all in-person sessions. However, we recognize there may be circumstances that may affect a Fellow’s ability to attend all classes and meetings. An RLA Fellow should not miss more than one or two sessions during the year-long program. 

No. Materials for RLA class sessions are provided by the Academy. Any project costs, including release time, travel, and project materials must be assumed by the unit benefitting from the project proposal. 

No funding and/or release time will be available for RLA Fellows or sponsors from the Academy. 

Nominations for the next Fellow’s cohort will be accepted in March 2022. Decisions will be made in May 2022.