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Professional Development
Strengthen the leadership skills and strategies you need to manage change effectively within your higher education institution, as well as address current and emerging challenges.
Priority Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Change is an inevitable part of today’s complex higher education landscape, yet effective change management remains a challenge. The Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE) offers experienced administrators the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of issues that affect their institutions. When you join us at Harvard, you’ll acquire core knowledge and learn strategies that will help you determine how well-positioned your college or university is to meet future challenges and manage the impact of organizational change.
"MLE introduced me to extraordinary leaders, new research, and a much broader array of institutional contexts. I have reflected on my MLE experience again and again throughout my transitions from faculty to provost to president." Elizabeth L. Hillman, President, Mills College
"MLE introduced me to extraordinary leaders, new research, and a much broader array of institutional contexts. I have reflected on my MLE experience again and again throughout my transitions from faculty to provost to president."
Elizabeth L. Hillman, President, Mills College
During the on-campus MLE institute, you’ll learn to identify the elements of your institution’s mission and culture that are critical to future success. And you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to close the gap between your leadership goals and what you can ultimately deliver.
MLE can help strengthen your leadership abilities at the system level, throughout your organization, among your teams, and within your individual practice. MLE also offers you the opportunity for professional assessment and renewal, including time to reflect on your leadership strengths and define areas for growth. The institute takes place in a supportive learning environment that includes Harvard faculty and accomplished higher education leaders from across the country and around the world.
While the program takes place on campus, it may also include such virtual components as a virtual orientation, pre-program preparation work, in-program sessions, and post-program follow-up.
Francesca Purcell is a specialist in higher education policy and practice, with expertise on topics including college completion, student transfer, and developmental education.
MLE is designed for experienced higher education leaders who have oversight and responsibility for their school, department, division, or functional area, including:
This program only accepts individual applications. First-time applicants need to create a Professional Education account to apply.
Click the "Apply" button at the top of this page to log into your Professional Education account and access the application page. Proceed with the application form until submission. Please note that applicants should be prepared to submit their most recent CV with the application.
Invoices will only be available upon your acceptance.
The tuition covers all instructional materials, a daily continental breakfast and lunch, and beverages and light refreshments during our scheduled breaks between sessions.
Travel, lodging expenses, and most dinners are not included in this fee. We have blocked a limited number of rooms in select hotels in the Cambridge/Boston area. The daily rates for these hotels typically range from $250 to $375 per room, plus applicable taxes. Once your applicants are accepted into the program, they will receive detailed information about these hotel options.
Tuition assistance is available for this program on a need and application basis. Tuition assistance is granted based on participant and institutional needs. Requests for tuition assistance do not affect an applicant's prospects for admission. You may access the tuition assistance application after you have submitted your program application. Tuition assistance applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the final application deadline.