A-Lab
A-Lab (Affiliate-Lab) is a three-year-long development and grant opportunity for CFL affiliate programs. A-Lab supports affiliate staff and faculty in advancing their programming, generating elevated leadership education across ºÚÁϳԹÏ. Affiliates enhance their offerings by collaborating with leadership educators within and outside of ºÚÁϳԹÏ, receiving renewable funding, and implementing research-based best practices for programming and evaluation.ÌýÌý
Each A-Lab cohort begins their journey with a five-day immersive experience. This includes four days of intensive training through the , focused on leadership theory, pedagogy, collaborative program design, and systems-level thinking. A fifth day, hosted by the Center for Leadership, fosters collaboration between cohort members, and establishes the groundwork for the project grant.
To support their work, participants receive a $5,000 grant in the first year to launch a new leadership initiative, followed by $2,000 annually for the next two years. They also join three-person learning pods that offer feedback, encourage collaboration, and provide input on projects aimed at advancing leadership development within their units or across the university.
A-Lab is not just a professional development experience—it is a strategic investment in cultivating a culture of leadership, experimentation, and interdisciplinary partnership across the university. It reflects the Center for Leadership’s commitment to quality without conformity: providing shared tools, language, and research-based models while honoring the unique identity and context of each program.