2025-26 Leading from the Middle Academy Application Form |
Overview
Leading from the Middle cultivates the individual and collective leadership capacity of community college practitioners committed to advancing systemic transformation.
This application expresses your college’s interest in participating in one of two 2025–26 Leading from the Middle (LFM) Academies offered in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO).
Academy Fee & Other Costs
To ensure equitable access and participation in the academies, the CCCCO is generously supporting the 2025–26 LFM Academies. The cost for a college to send a team of up to six members to an LFM Statewide Academy 2025–26 is $6,000. This fee covers the following:
- An assigned coach who will work with your college for the duration of the 15-month program
- Facilitated in-person convenings and virtual events
- Food and lodging for three 2 ½ day in-person convenings at the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA
- A high-quality leadership curriculum
- A dedicated space for college teams to work on a college project/initiative related to advancing Vision 2030 priority areas
The academy fee does not include participant travel costs to and from in-person events.
If the academy fee prohibits your college from participating, please contact Ireri Valenzuela, LFM Director, at ivalenzuela@rpgroup.org.
Application Guidance
To be considered for participation in a 2025–26 Leading from the Middle (LFM) Academy, please identify a team lead who will complete and submit the application on behalf of your team. In addition, teams will need to include a Letter of Support signed by a sponsoring administrator with your application. A sponsoring administrator should be the appropriate high-level administrator (vice president, college president, or department dean), depending on your team’s project scope and focus.
We highly encourage colleges to send diverse teams, including members from various positions and areas within the college, such as adjunct, tenured, and/or counseling faculty; administrators; classified professionals; and institutional researchers. Other considerations might include individuals from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and individuals with different gender identities and expressions. LFM teams are limited to six members for in-person convenings. Please contact professionaldevelopment@rpgroup.org if you need guidance with team selection.
Application Due Date
Applications are due by 11:59 pm on Monday, October 21.
Application Checklist
Application Guidance
To be considered for participation in a 2025–26 Leading from the Middle (LFM) Academy, please identify a team lead who will complete and submit the application on behalf of your team. In addition, teams will need to include a Letter of Support signed by a sponsoring administrator with your application. A sponsoring administrator should be the appropriate high-level administrator (vice president, college president, or department dean), depending on your team’s project scope and focus.
We highly encourage colleges to send diverse teams, including members from various positions and areas within the college, such as adjunct, tenured, and/or counseling faculty; administrators; classified professionals; and institutional researchers. Other considerations might include individuals from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and individuals with different gender identities and expressions. LFM teams are limited to six members for in-person convenings. Please contact professionaldevelopment@rpgroup.org if you need guidance with team selection.
Application Due Date
Applications are due by 11:59 pm on Monday, October 21.
Application Checklist
- Completed application form
- Letter of Support
- Description of the proposed project. Please note that the project must align with one or more of the CCCCO Vision 2030 priorities (listed in the application).
- Ensure team members have reviewed the application and are committed to attending the in-person convenings and actively participating in all other academy activities.