Harvard Seminar for New Presidents

Prepare for the responsibilities that await in your new role as a college/university president.

Overview

College and university presidents and chancellors are expected to be productive, articulate, and responsive leaders from the moment they assume office. With an array of external and institutional challenges to address, new presidents do not have the luxury of learning on the job.

The Harvard Seminar for New Presidents provides a practical orientation to the presidency, familiarizing new presidents with the opportunities and hazards they will likely face and preparing them to respond to the multiple responsibilities that await in their new roles.

Program Details

This seminar focuses on critical issues in the first months and years of the presidency, with intensive sessions that address a range of topics, including board governance, fundraising, academic leadership, strategic planning, the digital president, and the public role of the presidency.

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You will have ample time to reflect and consult with experts about your particular concerns and circumstances. Most importantly, you will connect with an extraordinary peer group of colleagues from across the country.

Objectives

• Explore the president’s multiple roles: chief executive officer, senior personnel officer, and academic leader
• Understand the relationship between the president and board of trustees and your power to improve institutional governance
• Examine the components of the fundraising process and your role in assuring success
• Explore the importance of the culture and traditions of an institution
• Consider the opportunity and challenges of social media in the president’s communications
• Study the role of the president in strategic planning, and learn how to develop institutional performance indicators and sustain progress

Who Should Attend

• First-time college and university presidents and chancellors ranging from those who have been appointed but not yet assumed office to those within the first 12 months of their presidencies
• Presidents from all sectors of higher education — colleges, universities, and community colleges

Fees & Policies

The comprehensive tuition includes all instructional materials, hotel accommodations, refreshments, and most meals. Detailed hotel information will be provided to all admitted participants. Participants receive a certificate of participation at the close of the program. Please note the Harvard Graduate School of Education is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred. We recommend that you not make travel arrangements until you are admitted to the program.

Payment or a purchase order must be received within 30 days of program acceptance, or upon receipt of the invoice if acceptance is within 30 days prior to the start of the program. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid. Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.