Level-Up Leadership Academy

Welcome to the Level-Up Leadership Academy, RIT's leadership development experience for leaders seeking to grow their effectiveness, expand their influence, and contribute more broadly to the university.

Program Overview

The Level-Up Leadership Academy (LULA) is a cohort-based developmental experience designed to help high-performing RIT leaders grow their impact on their teams, their units, and the university as a whole. Through interactive learning, practice, reflection, and connection with peers, participants strengthen both personal and professional effectiveness while expanding their leadership capacity.The program is grounded in a leadership framework that builds capability across three interconnected areas: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading the Institution.

This program brings RIT leaders together across roles and areas to build meaningful connections, share perspectives, and learn from one another. Participants gain practical tools, modern mindsets, and essential skills to successfully navigate complexity, lead through change, and thrive in an evolving higher education environment.

At its core, the Level-Up Leadership Academy is about cultivating a people‑first leadership culture. Leaders learn how to achieve results through collaboration, trust, and inclusive practices, recognizing that sustainable success is built by empowering and engaging people.

By the end of the program, participants leave better equipped to lead with confidence, adaptability, and empathy, strengthening RIT’s community of collaborative leaders who lead with purpose and impact.

At a Glance

  • Cohort timeline: September - May
  • Format: Monthly in-person interactive sessions, applied learning, and peer connection
  • Audience: Facutly and staff leaders with at least one current, full-time direct report, and one to ten years of supervisory experience
  • Participation: By nomination and application
  • Cohort size: ~25 per cohort

Program Details

LULA develops leaders across three essential dimensions:

  • Leading Self: 
    • Build self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal effectiveness. Participants strengthen their ability to reflect, adapt, and lead with intention.
  • Leading Others: 
    • Develop skills to effectively engage, communicate, and support team performance. Emphasis is placed on building trust, fostering psychological safety, and navigating challenging conversations.
  • Leading the Instituion: 
    • Expand perspective beyond the immediate team to understand and contribute to broader institutional priorities. Participants explore how their leadership can influence culture, strategy, and organizational outcomes.

Each cohort progresses through the program together, creating space for both individual growth and shared learning. Participants can expect:

  • Interactive workshops and facilitated discussions
  • Opportunities to apply concepts between sessions
  • Reflection and self-assessment activities
  • Peer learining and connection across units
  • Guest speakers who will share their leadership journeys and expertise

Each cohort runs from September through May with monthly, day-long in-person sessions allowing participants to engage deeply with the material and apply learning over time. The structure is designed to support:

  • Ongoing reflection and growth
  • Real-time application in participants' roles
  • Meaningful, cross-functional connections that last after program completion

Participation is by nomination and application, with participants selected through a thoughtful review process to build a strong and engaged cohort experience. The annual call for nominations typically takes place in late spring.

The Level-Up Leadership Academy is designed for high-performing leaders who:

  • Have at least one, current full-time direct report
  • Have between one and ten years of supervisory experience
  • Demonstrate strong performance and are ready to grow their leadership impact
  • Are seeking to expand their mindset, influence, and effectiveness
  • Value collaboration, reflection, and learning alongside peers across RIT
  • Are preparing for greater scope, complexity, or future leadership opportunities

This program is not corrective or remedial in nature. Nomination and participation reflects an investment in leaders who currently demonstrate strong performance and are prepared to grow their impact across the university.

Nominations

Interested in participating or nominating a leader on your team?

  • The nomination process opens in late spring or early summer for the incoming cohort
  • Nominations are accepted from leaders who supervise managers
  • Nominees are typically managers within the nominator's team, department, or division
  • If you are a leader interested in participating in LULA, we encourage you to share your interest with your leader

Nominations for Cohort 4 are now closed. Any additional questions, please contact Talent Development.