New Leader Development (NLD) Program

Overview

Effective leadership is a requirement for the continued success of The University of Oklahoma. Leadership skills are developed over time through the knowledge learned in professional, personal, and community-service experiences. The HR Learning and Organizational Development (L&OD) department designed the New Leader Development (NLD) program to provide employees with opportunities to learn the fundamental principles and skills necessary for leadership excellence. Program participants become immersed in 40 hours of leadership development-focused learning over an 18-month period. This necessitates active participation in six required, sequential workshops with a cohort, and collaborating with their supervisor to identify and complete 22 hours of elective leadership development courses.

Target Audience

  • High-potential associates (individuals seeking skills necessary to move into their first leadership role).
  • New managers, supervisors, team leads, or project leads who have never benefited from any type of leadership development.
  • Existing leaders interested in revisiting the fundamental principles and skills to hone their leadership capabilities.

About the Program

Core Workshops

These 3-hour core workshops will be completed in sequential order with a cohort. L&OD will enroll participants in these workshops in the OnPoint system. 

  • Transition to Leadership 
  • Change 
  • Communication
  • Coaching 
  • Collaboration 
  • Committing to Success

NLD Cohorts, Dates, Times & Deadlines

 

NLD Cohorts

(Required)

NLD Start/Core Session

One Dates

(Required)

Core Session Two Dates

(Required)

Core Session Three Dates

(Required)

Core Session

Four Dates

(Required)

Core Session

Five Dates

(Required)

Core Session Six Dates

Session Times Program Completion Dates

Cohort 28

February 4, 2025

March 4, 2025

April 1,
2025

May 6,
2025

June 3, 2025

July 1, 2025

Tuesdays
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
August 4, 2026
(Midnight)

Cohort 29

April 16, 2025

May 21, 2025

June 18, 2025

 July 16, 2025

August 20, 2025

September 17, 2025

Wednesdays
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
October 21, 2026
(Midnight)

Cohort 30

June 24, 2025

July 22, 2025

August 26, 2025

September 23, 2025

October 28, 2025

November 18, 2025

Tuesdays
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
December 16, 2026
(Midnight)
Cohort 31 October 15, 2025 November 19, 2025 December 10, 2025 January 21, 2026 February 18, 2026 March 11, 2026 Wednesdays
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
April 15, 2027
(Midnight)

We are currently enrolling for the following cohorts. Please note that workshop changes and cancellations are possible, and any updates will be communicated promptly.

 

 

Participation Expectations

1. Complete Six Required Core Workshops (approximately 18 hours)

  • Actively participate in the six core sequential workshops scheduled for the selected cohort.
    • Workshop dates and times are as listed above. Any changes, cancellations, or makeup options will be promptly communicated.
    • Members of the L&OD team will facilitate these instructor-led workshops.
  • Complete all individual and group assignments and homework.
  • Participants must have the ability to join and actively participate in these video Zoom workshops. Video and audio capability are required as participants must be present, focused, responsive, and on camera for the entire session.

2.    Work with your supervisor to identify and complete enough leadership, supervisory, and management-related electives to equal 22 total elective hours. 

  • Elective hours can be obtained by any combination of these activities:
    • Actively participating in L&OD instructor-led workshops listed on the Training Calendar.
    • Completing online training courses through LinkedIn Learning.
    • Obtaining up to 8 elective hours total from other forms of leadership, management, and supervisory development-related activities. 
      • Participants must combine and upload proof of successful completion or attendance for each experience into the appropriate section of the NLD Program Completion Verification form. If in doubt, email a description of your activity to the HR L&OD department at LearningAndDevelopment@ouhsc.edu for pre-approval. 
      • Activity Examples: university or college classes, conferences, books, articles research projects, courses outside of OU, etc. 
      • No proof of Attendance or Completion: Complete and upload a copy of this form into the Other Learning Experiences section of the completion verification form. 
  • OU Required Training cannot be counted as elective hours.

3.    The NLD Completion Form must be completed and submitted by midnight, 18 months from the cohort start date.

  • The L&OD team will verify the completion of the six core workshops and electives equal to at least 40 hours of learning.
  • Copies of the Certificate of Completion(s) produced by LinkedIn Learning and other sources should be scanned into one document and uploaded into the completion form.
  • NLD Certificates of Completion will be verified and available in OnPoint for participant download quarterly.

How to Register

1.    Download and complete the New Leader Development Agreement form before accessing the NLD Program Application form. For full functionality, please ensure you open all PDF documents in Adobe Acrobat; do not complete them in the browser.

  • This document must be:
    • Signed by the participant and their immediate supervisor.
    • Saved as PDF.
    • Uploaded into the application form.

2.    Complete the New Leader Development Program Application.

  • Incomplete applications will not be considered for enrollment into the New Leader Development program. Please ensure all fields are completed and all required documents are attached.
  • L&OD will review all applications and notify registrants and their supervisors. 

3.    Confirmed registrants will be added to the OnPoint learning management system for program and core course tracking and completion. 

  • Once completion of all core courses and elective courses are verified, completion of the NLD program will appear in OnPoint.   

4.    Report registration challenges to learninganddevelopment@ouhsc.edu.
 

Tracking Completion

  1. Download the NLD Tracking and Completion Form:
    • Use it to monitor your progress towards program completion. A completed copy of this form must be uploaded into the NLD Completion Verification Form. 
  2. Upload Proof of Completion:
  3. For Instructor-led workshops:
    • Follow the sign-in instructions for each workshop.
    • Zoom workshop facilitators will enter or submit session attendance. NLD registrants must be active and focused participants with their cameras on for the entire workshop. 
    • Only leadership, supervisory, or management-related instructor-led workshops can be counted toward program completion.  
  4. Confirm workshop completions:
  5. Enrollment Limitation:
    • Participants may only be actively enrolled in one L&OD program at a time. Workshops listed in multiple L&OD programs will only be counted toward the completion of one program.
  6. Submit the NLD Completion Verification Form once the six Core workshops (approximately 18 hours) have been completed and the 22 elective hours have been earned, equaling 40 total hours of program learning.
  7. Program Completion and Certificate Issuance:
    • Program completion requests are verified and certificates of completion are issued once a quarter:
      • Forms received by March 31 are verified in April. Certificates are issued by May.
      • Forms received by June 30 are verified in JulyCertificates are issued by August.
      • Forms received by Sept. 30 are verified in October. Certificates are issued by November.
      • Forms received by Dec. 31 are verified in January. Certificates are issued by February.
  8. Upon completion of the NLD program a Certificate of Achievement will be available in OnPoint for download.

Email learninganddevelopment@ouhsc.edu if you have program completion questions or need assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I completed an elective workshop(s) before I signed up for the NLD program?

If you completed an elective workshop(s) within three months of starting the New Leader Development program, it or they can be counted toward completion of the program.

Should I enroll in the program if I suspect that I will not be able to complete the program in 18 months (about one and a half years)?

We believe 18 months (about one and a half years) is ample time to complete the New Leader Development program, therefore, it is not our practice to extend program completion beyond the allotted completion time. 

What happens if a participant misses a cohort workshop and does not notify the program administrator?

Participants who must miss a cohort workshop are responsible for contacting the L&OD team in advance of the absence at learninganddevelopment@ouhsc.edu. An unexpected absence should be reported within two days of the missed workshop. Participants who do not contact the L&OD team regarding their absence or miss more than one cohort workshop will be asked to reapply to the program.

Is this a prerequisite for other leadership development programs?

This is not a prerequisite for any other leadership development programs. However, it will help you develop solid skills which you may then apply as you complete other programs.