Welcome to the EDUCAUSE Senior Directors Institute, a launching pad for your leadership journey! Through this experience, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to be an impactful leader in higher education while putting into practice the tools and strategies needed to thrive in your role.
Each session begins with a “Coffee Chat” to connect with fellow learners and ends with a dedicated group reflection to reinforce key takeaways. Throughout the program, you will engage in facilitated discussions, small group conversations, real-world interactive scenarios, and concise presentations from experienced leaders to deepen your learning.
What to Expect:
- Learning Activities – Interactive discussions, group work, and scenario-based learning
- Assignments – Practice exercises and real-world applications
- Recommended Resources – Readings, videos, and tools for deeper exploration
- Reflections – Structured time to consolidate learning and set actionable goals
Agenda
To complete the program and earn the microcredential, learners will dedicate approximately 26 hours over two full days and two half days, including required attendance at 22 hours of live virtual sessions and four to five hours of pre-work and homework throughout the program.
Please Note: To get the most out of this Institute, we strongly encourage you to step away from day-to-day responsibilities and, as much as possible, be fully present throughout the program.
All times listed in Eastern Time (ET).
| Monday, January 26 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
Tuesday, January 27 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
Wednesday, January 28 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
Thursday, January 29 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Institute Welcome Personal Leadership Values Emotional Intelligence MID-DAY BREAK Influence & Coaching Team Engagement |
Become a Change Manager Frameworks for Change MID-DAY BREAK Resource Stewardship Strategic Budgeting |
Innovation Stewardship Leveraging Data Governance & Decision-Making |
Strategic Vision in Action Institute Closing Ceremony |
| Homework Approximately 1 hour of homework each night. |
Homework Approximately 1 hour of homework each night. |
Homework Approximately 1 hour of homework each night. |
Competencies
As a leader at the senior director level, you need to be skilled at leading in different directions –-often simultaneously. This competency provides insights into leading up, down, and across the organization with clear values, active communication, and strong engagement.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Develop a personal statement that captures the principles and values you represent professionally.
- Apply emotional intelligence to lead with empathy, balancing organizational goals with the needs of your team.
- Develop skills to communicate and influence up, down, and across the organization.
- Practice active communication techniques that strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration, and deepen team engagement.
- Apply specific communication skills in order to be successful within the various contexts of crisis management.
Great leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about impact. The most effective leaders understand that people are the engine of every organization, and that when individuals feel seen, inspired, and connected to meaningful work, extraordinary things happen. Being an effective senior director requires more than just managing tasks: it calls for the ability to create environments where people are motivated, engaged, and empowered to thrive.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Develop strategies that align with individual motivators to drive engagement, satisfaction, and performance.
- Identify and apply elements of organizations where people love to work.
- Evaluate strategies to recruit and retain people in roles where they thrive and contribute.
- Discuss how to craft and share a clear and compelling vision to inspire action and align teams with shared goals.
- Apply advanced coaching techniques to support the development of others through intentional, reflective practice.
For senior leaders, navigating change isn’t a one-time task—it’s a core part of the job. Whether leading institutional shifts, restructuring teams, or rolling out new systems, senior directors are expected to manage and also champion change. The challenge lies in aligning vision with execution, minimizing resistance, and maintaining momentum across diverse stakeholders and departments.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Evaluate organizational readiness for change by identifying key barriers and enablers to successful implementation.
- Apply proven change management frameworks to lead meaningful transformation across units and the institution.
- Evaluate strategies to promote a culture that sustains momentum during organizational change, ensuring continuous engagement and buy-in from stakeholders.
- Identify qualities of effective and enduring change managers.
For senior directors in higher education technology, strategic resource management is more than balancing budgets—it's about making smart, data-empowered decisions that enable innovation, advance institutional goals, and create long-term sustainability. With the increasing need to be intentional with every resource, the ability to effectively align financial planning with organizational strategy is essential.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Evaluate higher education tools and resources for collecting data that drive informed financial decisions.
- Identify strategies for planning and overcoming budget and resource constraints to maximize impact.
- Apply strategic resource management practices to foster innovation and sustain long-term success for both the unit and the organization.
At the senior director level, leadership requires thinking tactically and strategically—to address immediate needs while steering toward long-term goals. Whether driving unit-level initiatives or contributing to enterprise-wide planning, senior leaders must make informed decisions that reflect institutional priorities, resource realities, and governance structures.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Blend tactical and strategic thinking to shape a well-rounded leadership approach.
- Leverage institutional and unit data to make informed, high-quality decisions.
- Identify key characteristics and models of governance that drive successful strategic planning.
- Explore frameworks for strategic decision-making that balance short-term results with long-term institutional goals and priorities.