Student Affairs Rising Professionals Program (RPP)

Academic Year 23-24

The Rising Professionals Program (RPP) is a year-long career development experience designed to foster a diverse and inclusive team of Student Affairs professionals who are well-prepared to pursue an array of opportunities at colleges and universities throughout the country.  The program is tailored to entry-level to mid-level professional staff (who don’t already have significant leadership roles), helping them learn and grow in preparation for the next steps in their careers—wherever their paths may take them. 

Program participants will:

• Learn more about critical and emerging issues in student development and higher education from current leaders in the field, engaging in case studies, conversations, and workshops regarding student development, higher education finance, law/policy, assessment, and managing staff
• Be introduced to key decision makers at UNC-Chapel Hill and other area colleges and universities
• Partner with a senior leader in UNC Student Affairs in a mentor-mentee relationship, through which they’ll develop and discuss a career action plan that connects their long and short-term goals with potential opportunities and networking relationships for professional advancement and growth

Curriculum Overview*

	PROGRAM	FACILITATOR/PRESENTER
September	Annual Program Kick-Off and Cohort Welcome • Introductions • Overview of program • Discussion of ethics/values in Student Development	Johnson/all
October	Two sessions: • Meet the Mentors/Mentees Lunch Panel:  Our Career Paths and Insights into Framing Your Own • Mentor/Mentee Mtg. No. 1	Mentors/all
November	Higher Education Law and Policy Workshop	Sauls
December	Coffee and Conversation:  Leading a World-Class Global Public University	Guskiewicz and Clemens
January	Two sessions: • Student Affairs in Practice Workshop: Case Study No. 1 • Mentor/Mentee Mtg. No. 2	Johnson Mentors
February	Managing and Mentoring Staff Workshop	TBA
March	Two sessions: • Student Affairs in Practice Workshop: Case Study No. 2 • Mentor/Mentee Mtg. No. 3	Johnson Mentors
April	Learning Outcomes and Assessment Workshop	Locke
May	Higher Education Finance Workshop	TBA
June	Coffee and Conversation: Lessons Learned in Leading a Student Affairs Division	TBA, Non-UNC Leaders
July	• Mentor/Mentee Mtg. No. 4 • Graduation Event	Johnson/all

*Subject to change based on presenter availability

Online Application