Certificate Program
Leaders of Excellence and Distinction
Blended Course
2025-2026
2-year Certificate Program
Contacts Co-Directors of Professional Development
Contact: Alexandra Rollins
Title: Director of Employee and Organizational Development
Office: (951) 827-4928
Email: Alexandra.Rollins@ucr.edu
Contact: Isidra Villalobos Martinez
Title: UCR SOM, Financial Administrative Officer
Office: (951) 827-7683
Email: isidra.Martinez@medsch.ucr.edu
Description
LEAD maintains a strong focus on professional development for campus staff, partnering closely with Employee and Organizational Development in Central Human Resources. LEAD’s mission is to foster engagement of staff by promoting professional development for future and current leaders. Individuals will benefit from the partnerships with administrative and financial units across campus through hands-on training, and personal/professional development, coordinated by the LEAD Executive Board. We encourage you to continue your professional development journey with us. Please visit the LEAD website for upcoming trainings, best practices, and tips to grow professionally at UCR.
“Professional Development Leave
An employee who wishes to request professional development leave shall develop a
plan in accordance with local implementing procedures for approval by the department head. Upon approval of the department head, a regular status employee whose performance is satisfactory or better is eligible in general for 80 hours (nonexempt) or 10 workdays (exempt) paid release time per calendar year for professional development. The department head shall approve the leave subject to scheduling, staffing, and budget considerations.” https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010408/PPSM-50
Prerequisites
- Must Pass probationary period. Must have a satisfactory (or equivalent) performance appraisal.
- Must have approval from direct supervisor to participate in program. If represented, please contact labor relations for necessary approval.
Blended Course Format
This program is being offered as a blended approach. Much of the work in this program will occur online in the UCR Learning Management System (LMS) or via zoom. Online activities and in-class activities are designed to build on each other. Active participation in the online activities and completion of all coursework is required in this program.
This program requires you to meet online one time per month for our LEAD R’Ship series and check-ins. The typical activities will include interacting with guest speakers, engaging with your cohort after the LEAD R’Ship series sessions to discuss major concepts, and how to incorporate the learning into everyday work. There may be additional time, outside of the outlined schedule, needed depending on how often the cohort deems it necessary to meet.
*Please note: If you have a hybrid schedule you may need to adjust your on-campus presence.
Learning Outcome
Develop self-awareness: Enhance understanding of personal strengths, weaknesses, and leadership style through a variety of Franklin Covey's courses, DiSC assessment, LEAD R’Ship courses and eLearning courses.
Strategic leadership: Apply principles from "The 6 Critical Practices of Leading a Team” to think strategically, drive innovation, and achieve long-term success.
Continued Professional Development: Encourage ongoing learning, self-reflection, and application of learned skills through regular assessments and feedback loops.
These objectives encompass various aspects of leadership development and align with the content of the selected Franklin Covey courses, ensuring a comprehensive and impactful two-year program.
After successful completion of year one, you will be able to develop leadership skills to apply to a capstone project presentation in year two. Participants will deliver and facilitate a presentation to the LEAD executive board and the campus community.
Course Materials
Most course materials and fees are included in the program at no cost to participants.
Program Requirements
Required Assessment:
DiSC Assessment – (In-person)
Everything DiSC© is an assessment tool used to improve work productivity, teamwork, leadership, and communication. It identifies behavioral styles in various situations. It also provides a common language that can help people relate to others, and how to adapt their behavior when interacting with others. It focuses on valuing and capitalizing on the different preferences.
Online courses through UCR LMS. Therefore, you must have access to the Internet to view/hear videos/discussions. No special software is required.
To participate in learning activities and complete assignments, you will need:
- Access to a working computer that has a current operating system with updates installed, plus speakers or headphones to hear lecture presentations.
- Reliable Internet access and a UCR email account/UCR Net ID.
- A current Internet browser that is compatible with LMS (Google Chrome is the recommended browser for LMS).
- Microsoft Word as your word processing program; and
- Reliable data storage for your work, such as a USB drive or Office365 OneDrive cloud storage.
If your computer does not have Microsoft Word, the Office 365 ProPlus package is available to you free of charge and allows you to install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access on up to 5 PCs or Macs and Office apps on other mobile devices including tablets. Office 365 also includes unlimited cloud storage on OneDrive. To download Office 365 ProPlus, log into your employee (University) email through a web browser. If you have further questions or need help with the software, please contact ITS.
Minimum Technical Skills Needed
Minimum technical skills are needed in this course. Therefore, you must have consistent and reliable access to a computer and the Internet. The minimum technical skills you have include the ability to:
- Organize and save electronic files.
- Use UCR email and attached files.
- Download and upload documents.
- Locate information with a browser; and
- Use LMS, Zoom, and other online resources.
Technical Support
If you have problems with your computer, technology, IT-related questions, support, please contact https://its.ucr.edu/
Course Assignments and Grading
- Most coursework (assignments, etc.) is secured in the LMS with a username and password.
Formatting
All written assignments are required to be submitted using Google Drive. There are no exceptions to this rule. Documents should be proofread to avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes. Additionally, all written assignments will be evaluated based on “quality” and not simply “quantity.” In addition, all written assignments should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Spacing: one and a half.
- Font: either Tahoma or Arial in 12 points (size).
- Title of assignment centered on the first page, followed by name in next line.
- Documentation for all references and quotations using APA style; and
- Accurate spelling and grammar.
Projects
An important goal of this program is to develop the capacity for independent, analytical, interpretive thought, especially in response to complex discussions that involve a purposeful understanding and effective use of communication. Your capstone project allows you to build these important skills and reflect on learnings.
The capstone topic and project will be decided in year 2 by the 2025-2026 cohort.
Academic Success
Successful learners in a blended course:
- Do not procrastinate.
- Are open to sharing professional experiences in a hybrid format.
- Enhance online discussions.
- Have good written communication skills.
- Use proactive communication.
- Are self-motivated and self-disciplined.
- Have a commitment to learning.
- Have critical thinking and decision-making skills.
- Believe quality learning can take place in a hybrid environment; and
- Have good time management skills.
Disability Services
The UCR Disability Management Office is designed to act as a resource for UCR departments with respect to the administration of Federal and State disability laws and University policies relating to employees with disabilities. https://hr.ucr.edu/front/workplace-health-wellness/disability-management
University Library Resources
University Library Resources https://library.ucr.edu/
- University Libraries have access to books, articles, subject specific resources, citation help, and more. If you are not sure where to start, please Ask a Librarian!
- Remember that if you use anything that is not your own writing or media (quotes from books, articles, interviews, websites, movies – everything) you must cite the source in MLA (or other appropriate and approved) format.
LMS
As a part of your participation in this course, you have access to the Learning Management System https://ucrlearning.ucr.edu/
For assistance with the UC Learning Center, contact ucrlearning@ucr.edu
Attendance Policy
Success in this program is dependent on your active participation throughout the program. When you miss a meeting or training you miss important information. If you are unable to attend a scheduled meeting or training, you are responsible for reaching out to your cohort to be briefed on what was discussed. If you miss a virtually led training course, you are responsible for and enrolling in another training course offering. Please keep in mind that course offerings are limited. Please plan accordingly.
Plagiarism
Using the words or ideas of another as if they were one’s own is a serious form of academic dishonesty. If another person’s complete sentence, syntax, key words, or the specific or unique ideas and information are used, one must give that person credit through proper citation.
Conduct/Netiquette
Professionalism will always be expected. Meetings are a place designed for the free exchange of ideas; we must show respect for one another in all circumstances. We will show respect for one another by exhibiting patience and courtesy in our exchanges. Appropriate language and restraint from verbal attacks upon those whose perspectives differ from your own is a minimum requirement.
Some Netiquette Rules:
- Treat one another with respect. It will be expected that we will not attack one another personally for holding different opinions.
- Do not use all CAPITAL LETTERS in emails or discussion board postings. This is considered "shouting" and is seen as impolite or aggressive.
- Begin emails with a proper salutation (Examples: Dr. Name; Ms. Name; Hello Professor Name; Good afternoon, Mr. Name). Starting an email without a salutation or a simple "Hey" is not appropriate.
- When sending an email, please include a detailed subject line. Additionally, make sure you reference the course number (Ex. LEADERS) in the message and sign the mail with your name.
- Use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Text messaging language is not acceptable.
- Use good taste when communicating. Profanity should be avoided.
Late Work/Make-up Policy
All assignments are due by the deadline.
Please plan accordingly and complete these assignments in advance of their deadlines to ensure any unanticipated circumstances do not result in a missed assignment. User error does not qualify you for any kind of makeup or retake opportunity.
Late assignments will be accepted if the following two requirements are met:
- You must contact us in advance of the assignment deadline to make arrangements for its completion.
- You must complete the assignment within the week following its due date.
Instructional Methods
The program will be taught using multiple instructional methods. These methods will include in Zoom, meeting question and answer sessions, online videos, group projects, video presentations, and in-person sessions with an associated critical discussion.
Diversity and Inclusion
The university is committed to a campus environment that is inclusive, safe, and respectful for all persons. To that end, all course activities will be conducted in an atmosphere of friendly participation and interaction among colleagues, recognizing and appreciating the unique experiences, background, and point of view each participant brings. You are expected at all times to apply the highest academic standards to this course and to treat others with dignity and respect.