About the Institute (LDI)

About the Leadership Development Institute

Leaders-at all levels and in all capacities-are the backbone of any organization. The University of Maryland recognizes that leaders have an extremely important role in ensuring the success of the institution and that significant educational support will foster this success. To provide our leaders with the support they need, the University of Maryland has established the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) to offer training and developmental opportunities that focus on the core competencies required to achieve unit and campus goals.

LDI is created specifically for University faculty and staff at the supervisory level and above and is comprised of three programs, each targeted to a specific level of leadership:

1.) supervisor
2.) manager
3.) executive

The programs that comprise the Leadership Institute are interdependent and will provide a consistent set of core competencies as the building blocks for excellence and innovation for campus leaders.

The comprehensive curriculum, spanning from fundamental skills through advanced concepts, will meet all managers' needs-from new managers to senior executives. At every step of their UM management career, LDI will assist managers as their responsibilities increase and ensure their continued professional growth.

The three-tiered program consists of:

Level 1: Foundations of Leadership
A three-month certificate program geared towards current or prospective managers who have: limited management experience (0-3 years), recently been appointed to a supervisory or managerial role at the University, OR minimal or no formal management training. The program prepares supervisors with basic job knowledge and skills to effectively manage and lead at the University.

Level 2: Managerial Effectiveness
A certificate program geared towards experienced managers with 5 or more years management experience (program length TBD). The program is aimed at helping managers strengthen advanced management skills and maximizing their impact on others and their organization. This program is currently in the design and development stage.

Level 3: Strategic Leadership
A program designed specifically for faculty and senior administrators with demonstrated potential and significant supervisory and financial responsibility (program length TBD). The program is aimed at helping campus executives tune their leadership effectiveness to make better strategic decisions and improve the profitability and overall productivity of the University. This program is currently in the design and development stage.

The Foundations of Leadership is the first LDI program implemented and is offered every spring and fall. Managerial Effectiveness and Strategic Leadership are currently being developed; expected implementation date is TBD.

Core Competencies
A comprehensive needs assessment, conducted across the campus, revealed a set of "core competencies" which are essential for effective leadership on our campus. The core competencies provide a focus for learning and development, as well as performance management. They serve as the framework for the Institute and are integrated into all three levels of the program according to the knowledge, skills and abilities required for each level of management.

Institutionalizing the core competencies establishes clear performance standards and accountabilities, outlines required competence levels, focuses activities on organizational priorities and develops consistent principals and practices across campus. In addition, core competencies align campus leaders with the University's vision and link their individual job performance to specific University goals.

There are ten core competencies:
Customer Service
Change Management
Conflict Resolution
Performance Management
Principled Leadership
Communication
Continuous Improvement
Planning and Organizing
Organizational Performance
Administrative Excellence (Functional Job Knowledge)