Organization & Leadership Core Competency Course

The Core Competency Course on Organization and Leadership is designed to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel as leaders in higher education settings. Through a blend of theoretical frameworks, practical applications, and interactive discussions, this course will provide a comprehensive understanding of various leadership styles, personal and professional growth, and strategic organizational practices.

This course will explore a variety of themes within the Organization and Leadership Core Competency, including: 

• Leadership Styles: Engage in self-assessment to identify and cultivate your unique leadership strengths, and explore different leadership styles and understand their impact on organizational dynamics.

• Self-Assessment and Growth: Gain insights into your strengths, values, and leadership capabilities, and develop strategies for continuous personal and professional growth as a leader.

• Philosophical Approach to Orientation, Transition, and Retention: Develop a personal and professional philosophy for your work in student orientation, transition, and retention programs, and understand the importance of creating supportive environments for student success.

• Ethical Decision Making: Explore ethical frameworks and their application in decision-making processes; learn to navigate complex challenges with integrity and transparency.

• Conflict Mediation and Resolution: Gain skills in conflict mediation and resolution to foster a positive and collaborative workplace.

• Staff Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring: Understand best practices in staff recruitment, selection, and hiring; explore strategies to reduce unconscious bias in recruitment processes.

• Supervision: Enhance your supervisory skills and develop effective supervision techniques to support and mentor your team.

• Structure and Governance of Colleges and Universities: Explore the overall structure and governance models of higher education institutions.

• Strategic Planning: Learn the fundamentals of strategic planning and its importance in organizational development.

• Professional Development Plan: Create a comprehensive professional development plan throughout the course where you will identify personal goals, objectives, and actionable steps to enhance your career

Throughout the course, participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on these topics, facilitating peer learning and the exchange of diverse perspectives. These discussions will enhance your understanding of the course material and provide practical insights from real-world experiences.

Join us in this transformative journey to become a more effective and reflective leader in higher education.

You can read about the Organization and Leadership Core Competencies and all of the NODA Core Competencies on our website. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By participating in this course, individuals will: 

• Familiarize themselves with different approaches to professional practice and organizational management.

• Develop skills to mediate conflict, navigate collaborative relationships, and sustain an ethical standard of practice. 

• Articulate their professional philosophy. 

• Share their vision and expectations with institutional staff, constituents, and stakeholders. 

• Create a personalized professional development plan

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

Previous participants noted that, along with achieving the overarching goal of creating a professional development plan, they benefited from learning more about models of change and how they may help them navigate institutional change, and participants appreciated the interaction with their peers, especially as they practiced giving and receiving constructive feedback.

INTENDED AUDIENCE:

This course will primarily cover the foundational and intermediate levels of NODA’s Organization and Leadership Core Competency and is intended for new and mid-level professionals. 

Please review NODA's cancellation policy prior to registering for this course. 

TIME COMMITMENT:

As an online course with a weekly synchronous component, students registered for the course should expect to complete 1–2 hours of independent work each week prior to attending the synchronous meetings. This independent work will be reflected upon and discussed in the synchronous meetings. Your dedication to the asynchronous coursework is appreciated.

Your engagement in all course activities and discussions is crucial for your learning and the learning of all participants.

INSTRUCTOR:

Holly Williams has over 20 years of professional experience in higher education in a diverse range of institutions and concentrations in retention and student success, academic advising for at-risk populations, first-year experience, orientation programs, student activities, and student leadership development. She has been an active member of NODA since 2003 and has served on various association committees, conference and symposium planning teams, and as a former Two-Year College Network Co-Chair. Holly currently serves as the Director of New Student Programs at the University of Houston. 

PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS:

To best facilitate course learning and interactions, participants are expected to:

• Active participation: Your engagement in all course activities and discussions is crucial for both your learning and the learning of all participants.

• Respect and openness: Approach all interactions with respect, openness, and a willingness to learn from diverse perspectives and experiences. Personal attacks are not acceptable as this is a space for learning and sharing in a respectful manner. However, all participants are encouraged to be open to constructive feedback.

• Confidentiality: Respect the confidentiality of shared personal experiences and insights within the course, fostering a safe and trusting environment for all participants. 

Being a leader can be a rewarding and exhausting experience. Please be respectful and be mindful of the vulnerabilities individuals may share related to their jobs, their institutions, and themselves. Confidentiality is critical — what gets said in this course, stays in this course. 

SCHEDULE:

• – Synchronous Meeting #1: September 17

• – Synchronous Meeting #2: September 24

• – Synchronous Meeting #3: October 1

•  – Synchronous Meeting #4: October 8

• – Synchronous Meeting #5: October 15

• – Synchronous Meeting #6: October 22

REGISTRATION DEADLINES AND PRICING:

Member Rates:

• Early Bird Registration: $195 (register by July 23, 2026)

• Regular Registration: $225 (register by August 27, 2026)

• Late Registration: $280 (register by September 15, 2026)

Non-Member Rates

• Early Bird Registration: $375 (register by July 23, 2026)

• Regular Registration: $405 (register by August 27, 2026)

• Late Registration: $460 (register by September 15, 2026

CANCELLATION POLICY:

If you need to cancel a registration, please email noda@umn.edu with the specifics of your cancellation request. You can view NODA’s Cancellation Policy on our website. 

NODA EXCELLENCE FUND:

Scholarships for this course and other NODA educational opportunities are available through the NODA Excellence Fund.