Leadership Development Program FAQs

To be eligible for LDP, applicants must have been in their current position for at least one year by the application deadline. To ensure fairness and consistency, eligibility is based on time in your current position. The position into which you were reclassified is considered your current position.

Yes. AI tools may be used for brainstorming, grammar assistance, editing, and organizing your thoughts. However, your responses should reflect your own experiences, insights, and leadership journey. The review committee is looking for authentic, personal responses that reflect your experiences and perspectives rather than generic or fully AI-generated content.

Many successful participants applied more than once before being selected. Consider:

• Providing more specific examples of leadership and initiative.
• Demonstrating greater reflection on your experiences and growth.
• Seeking feedback on your application responses before submitting.
• Attending the applicant workshop for additional guidance.

Previous applicants may be eligible to receive additional application support and feedback . However, availability is limited. Requests for additional assistance must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the deadline. To request specific assistance, please reach out to [email protected]. 
 

Attendance at all program sessions is a requirement of participation. Applicants should carefully review the program schedule before applying and confirm they can attend all required sessions.

Applicants must:

• Be a School of Medicine employee.
• Have supervisory and/or program management responsibilities.
• Hold an exempt position.
• Be a Professional & Support Staff (PSS) employee at level 3 or above, or a Manager & Senior
• Professional (MSP) employee.
• Have at least two years of UC service by the application deadline.
• Have been in their current position for at least one year by the application deadline.

If you are unsure whether your position is exempt or non-exempt, please consult your supervisor or department HR representative. 

Yes. Union-represented employees may be eligible if they meet all other program eligibility requirements, including exempt status and position level requirements.

No. The Leadership Development Program is currently limited to eligible School of Medicine employees.

No. The program is intended specifically for School of Medicine employees.

At this time, Non-Faculty Academics are not eligible for the program. 

Yes. Your supervisor must acknowledge the program time commitment and support your participation.

Yes. While applicants typically use their current supervisor as a reference, they may instead identify a former supervisor or professional mentor to complete the reference questionnaire.

Supervisor acknowledgement of the time commitment is required. If your supervisor is unable to support participation at this time, you may wish to discuss future opportunities for applying.

The application platform used for this cycle (Smartsheet), does not allow applicants to save and return to an application in progress. We strongly recommend drafting your responses to the seven application questions in a separate document before beginning the application.

Applications are reviewed by an advisory committee using a structured scoring process. Reviewers consider:

• Leadership potential
• Initiative and impact
• Professional growth and readiness
• Quality of application responses
• Reference feedback

Responses to the seven application questions are the most important component of the application review process.

Applicants will be notified by Friday, September 4.

Absolutely. Many participants are selected after applying more than once. Applicants who are not selected are encouraged to apply again in future cycles.