Black Leadership Institute

SUNY has boldly committed to becoming the most inclusive University System in the country; where all students, faculty and staff regardless of background feel welcome and supported. SUNY understands that to truly meet its goals, University leadership at the highest levels must have a deep understanding of the various backgrounds, life journeys, and perspectives held by SUNY student communities across New York State and have an evidenced commitment to supporting the success of all students, including those who experience significant barriers to higher education. 

SUNY further recognizes that students facing barriers to higher education are not restricted to one group of people but rather come from different identities, geographic regions, and cultural backgrounds that are unique in nature and foster distinct challenges.  SUNY is committed to educating leaders on unique geographic, social, and cultural differences that exist within the campus community and key strategies to facilitate and enhance student success and upward mobility.  Leaders must always strive to recognize, value, and develop the diverse character, contributions, and capabilities of all students in support of their overall wellbeing as they navigate their respective obstacles.  

With this foundation, strategic and sustained professional development investments will be necessary  to demonstrate to all of our emerging and current leaders SUNY's commitment to their success and to ensuring a collaborative and welcoming environment in which they can continue their professional growth toward leadership roles at the University President and President's Cabinet level (Provosts, Deans, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Business Officers, etc.).

The Black Leadership Institute is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria.

Who is eligible for this opportunity?

Full-time SUNY employees (e.g., Faculty or staff) who:

• must possess a minimum of three (3) years of employment within the SUNY system, including its colleges and universities, and have worked at least three (3) years in higher education,
• Have demonstrated proven leadership and administrative experience, and
• Are on a career path to higher levels of administrative and leadership responsibility within SUNY, at the System level or a university campus.

How to Apply?

The application process is all electronic via Mach form. The process includes four main steps:

1. Nomination
2. Application
3. Selection by Steering Committee
4. Acceptance into the program

Nomination

The first step is to be nominated by the campus. The nomination and Letter of Recommendation cannot be submitted by the Nominee directly.

To nominate a colleague, please submit via Nomination Portal.

Application

As you get ready to complete the application, please be prepared to submit the following:  

• Thoughtful responses to questions (up to 1,200-word limit):
  • Please describe the primary reason(s) you are applying to SUNY’s Black Leadership Institute (BLI) and what you specifically expect to learn from the Institute.
  • Please highlight the leadership positions you have held during the past five years and describe your major accomplishments.
  • Please describe your academic expertise, professional expertise, and/or research, if any, related to identifying, analyzing, and/or addressing barriers to higher education, student success, and/or upward mobility for Black students and other underserved and/or underrepresented student groups, including by geographic region of residence or origin.
  • Please describe your commitment to and experience (professional, volunteer, or otherwise) with student success and upward mobility related initiatives for students who have experienced or are experiencing barriers to access and equal opportunity in higher education from under-resourced communities, within your professional role and/or campus or local community, as applicable. Such students may include, but are not limited to, Pell grant students, first-generation students, first-generation immigrant students, and/or international students.
  • Where do you plan to be administratively, or in a leadership capacity, in five years? What strategies and initiatives will you pursue to accomplish this goal?
• Two (2) letters of recommendation (One from either a campus president, provost, vice president, or dean).
• Campus Statement of Commitment
• Copy of an up-to-date CV or résumé

Selection and Acceptance

All completed applications will be reviewed, with the goal of selecting up to ten fellows to comprise the leadership cohort. Once the selections are made, applicants will receive an email with the decision. 

Selected Fellows will then have the option to accept the Fellowship and commit to the program.

Since the BLI Fellowship program has limited spaces and high demand, we recommend considering the decision seriously before making the final commitment.