KYSSC Leadership exChange

Readying Today's Faculty for Tomorrow's Leadership

The Leadership exChange program, offered through CPE's Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, provides faculty and staff with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and create meaningful change at their institutions. Through a supportive, hands-on learning environment, participants gain the tools to bring diverse stakeholders together, center the student experience, and lead with purpose using a continuous improvement approach.

Program Goal

To help faculty and staff develop as change leaders, equipped to guide collaborative efforts, prioritize student needs, and drive lasting improvement at their institutions.

What Participants Gain

• Strategies for building strong ecosystems
• Practical collaboration tools
• Skills to facilitate inclusive processes
• Techniques for student-centered design
• An adaptive mindset for leadership
• A framework for continuous improvement

Overview of the Curriculum and Timeline

Meeting	Topic	Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Opening Retreat Modules 1 and 2	Agree on a Student  Success Challenge  Identify and Engage  Key Stakeholders	Thurs. and Fri. Sept. 4 – 5	9/4 – 1-7pm 9/5 – 9-3pm	KCTCS Office, Versailles, KY	Jack Hess
CoP	Recap and Implementation	Mon. Sept. 15	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Jack Hess
Module 3	Focus Project Aim and  Drivers for Change	Wed. Oct. 8	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Juliette Price
CoP	Recap and Implementation	Mon. Oct. 20	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Juliette Price
Module 4	Map Current State Picture	Wed. Nov. 5	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Nicole McWhorter
CoP	Recap and Implementation	Wed. Nov. 19	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Nicole McWhorter
Module 5	Design Future State Picture	Wed. Dec. 3	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Lena Blackstock
CoP	Recap and Implementation	Wed. Dec. 17	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Lena Blackstock
Happy Holidays!
Midpoint Retreat Module 6	Create Continuous Improvement Plan	Wed. Jan. 7	10am - 3pm ET	CPE, Frankfort (Virtual option)	Beth Collins
CoP	Recap and Implementation	Wed. Jan. 21	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Beth Collins
Module 7	Apply Adaptive Leadership Skills	Wed. Feb. 11	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Dana Jackson
CoP	30-day check-in	Wed. Feb. 25	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Lilly and Stephanie
CoP	60-day check-in	Thurs. Mar. 26	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Lilly and Stephanie
CoP	90-day check-in	Wed. Apr. 22	2-3:30pm ET	Virtual	Lilly and Stephanie
Closing Retreat	Review Impact and Scale	Thurs. and Fri.  May 14 – 15	5/14 – 1-7pm 5/15 – 9-2pm	TBD	Capstone Review Panel

Capstone Project

As part of the program, participants complete a capstone project that applies concepts and tools learned throughout the program to a work-based context. This hands-on experience builds confidence and prepares faculty and staff to lead collaborative change initiatives.

How It Works

• Participants follow the Leadership exChange Process Wheel to guide a change project on their campus.
• Project topics align with participants’ areas of responsibility and institutional priorities, directly improving their work and impact on student success.
• Projects may be undertaken individually or in teams, with teams formed at the September retreat.
• Projects follow a guided timeline from September to April, with completion at the May Retreat.
• At the May Retreat, participants share their project design, impact, and next steps with their cohort.

Benefits of Participation

The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative awards $15,000 and $10,000 grants to the top two capstone projects demonstrating early impact, supporting scaling at participants’ institutions.

Capstone Timeline

• Sept.: Form capstone teams, select project topics, and identify key stakeholders.
• Oct.: Draft a focused AIM statement and Driver Diagram with partners.
• Nov.: Use mapping tools with partners to develop a shared understanding of the current state.
• Dec.: Facilitate activities to visualize the desired future state.
• Jan.: Prioritize tests of change and create a 90-day continuous improvement implementation plan.
• Feb. – April: Implement tests of change, review impact, and determine next steps.
• May: Complete the project and present the design, impact, and next steps to peers.