Higher Education Department Chair Academy

2025 Higher Education Department Chair Academy
The Higher Education Department Chair Academy (The Chair Academy) provides practical and detailed training essential to overseeing academic departments to department chairs, assistant department chairs, school directors, deans, and core curriculum coordinators who are new to relatively new in the position (those starting their first or second year). This Academy covers the “nuts and bolts” of chairing an academic department.
The Chair Academy involves a workshop-style approach that takes place over five multi-day sessions throughout the summer and fall. Participants will be provided leadership development to manage the programs, personnel, and advancement of their departments. The Chair Academy includes small-group discussion, peer-to-peer collaboration, lessons learned through experience, and documenting experiences through a Department Chair Leadership Manual. It is facilitated with hands-on coaching by an experienced team of academic leaders who collectively have over 30 years of department leadership experience. The Chair Academy was established in 2009 through the Educators’ Leadership Academy (ELA) at the University of Central Oklahoma.

2025 Session Dates
Session #1: The Role of the Department Chair
Tuesday, May 20 | 1:00 p.m. – Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. 
University of Central, Edmond, OK

Session #2: Employee Transitions
Monday, June 16 | 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. – Tuesday, June 17, 2025| 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
LX Studios, Oklahoma City, OK

Session #3: Department Management 
Wednesday, July 23 | 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. – Thursday, July 24, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Lake Murray State Park Resort, Ardmore, OK
 
Session #4: Curriculum 
Thursday, September 11 | 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. – Friday, September 12, 2025 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

Session #5: Strategic Planning 
Thursday, October 23 | 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. – Friday, October 24, 2025 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

Tuition
Early-bird Registration Fee:
$2,499.00 includes meals, lodging, and instructional materials, ends March 25, 2025.

Regular Registration Fee:
$3,000.00 includes meals, lodging, and instructional materials, March 26 – May 13, 2025.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the session locations.