Lobo Leadership Academy

Managers and supervisors at UNM play a pivotal role in advancing UNM’s mission and strategic objectives. By fostering employee engagement, development, and retention, they contribute significantly to maintaining a happy and sustainable workforce at UNM.
While assuming a supervisory role offers numerous advantages and growth opportunities, it also presents distinct challenges. Success in this role necessitates a comprehensive understanding of UNM policies, procedures, and effective people management practices.
Through participation in the Lobo Leadership Academy, managers will collaborate with a cohort of peers in similar roles to acquire essential knowledge for achieving success as a supervisor at UNM. This intensive four-week training program covers in-depth exploration of UNM policies and procedures, alongside critical leadership competencies aimed at positioning both managers and their teams for excellence.
About Leadership Academy
The Lobo Leadership Academy will concentrate on critical UNM policies and procedures alongside leadership competencies, often termed "soft skills" despite their substantial impact. These competencies are designed to foster team growth, enhance employee engagement, and bolster personal effectiveness. Explore the 15 identified Leadership Competencies you will develop through the Lobo Leadership Academy.
Course Highlights:
- Develop Essential Skills: Acquire the knowledge and strategies necessary to guide your team towards success and elevate your leadership abilities. Did you know effective leaders influence 70% of their employee’s engagement?
- Interactive Cohort Learning: Progress through the program alongside a supportive group of peers. Begin and conclude the journey together, fostering collaboration and a strong sense of community. Engage in discussions, share experiences, learn from each other, and cultivate professional relationships with fellow leaders across UNM.
- Hybrid In-person + Virtual Model: The Lobo Leadership Academy integrates a hybrid format featuring online self-paced modules and corresponding in-person sessions. In-person attendance is mandatory and provides opportunities to network with fellow emerging managers, exchanging insights and experiences.
- Master Key Competencies: The curriculum emphasizes 15 essential leadership competencies directly linked to the UNM Employee Engagement Survey. These encompass essential areas such as communication, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and more.
- Alignment with UNM 2040 Goals: This initiative aligns with UNM's strategic vision for a resilient, high-quality workforce, promoting a thriving and secure campus environment outlined in Goal Four, Objective One of the UNM 2040 plan.
*Gallup State of the Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders.
Who Should Attend?
Required Attendees
Lobo Leadership Academy is required for all new staff managers and supervisors with at least one staff direct report. Human Resources will contact you if you are required to attend. Attendance at in-person sessions is mandatory and if you become a new manager at UNM, you will automatically be invited to the course and will receive an email invite prior to the course date.
Human Resources will contact you if you are required to attend. If you are interested in taking the Lobo Leadership Academy for a career ladder, as a refresher, or are required by HR, sign up on our wait list here.
Aspring Leaders
If you are interested in taking the Lobo Leadership Academy for a career ladder, as a refresher, or are have been advised by HR to attend, please contact Talent Development.
Previous Attendees
If you previously attended Employee Life Cycle, you are encouraged to attend the Lobo Leadership Academy. Managers should retake the required training every 2-3 years to stay up to date on process changes, new policies, and best practices.
Did You Know?
Leaders are responsible for
70%
of team engagement?*
Schedule
The Lobo Leadership Academy will be conducted every other month beginning September 2024. The training spans four weeks and utilizes a hybrid format comprised of online modules and in-person sessions. Participants should allocate approximately 5 hours per week to complete the course.
The online modules are divided into four sections. Participants can complete these modules at their own pace throughout the week, with each module ranging from 20 minutes to one hour in length. The total time expected for online module completion is approximately 2.5 hours per week.
Each week there will be scheduled in-person session aligned with the topics covered in the online module where we will cover practical application of the material. These sessions will occur once a week and last approximately 2.5 hours each. Specific dates and times for the in-person sessions will be communicated prior to the course start date.
Review the agenda below for more information on the content of each unit and the topics covered.
Content Overview
| Unit | Description | Timing | Unit Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Leadership Essentials | Introduction to HR, Leadership foundations, Employee engagement | 3.5 Hours | |
| Unit 2: Effective Talent Management | Hiring, Remote work, ADA | 3.5 Hours | HR Client Services
Unit 2 Videos: Recruitment and Hiring ProcessEquitable WorkforceManaging Remote Work |
| Unit 3: Absence and Compensation Essentials | Absence Management, Compensation | 3.5 Hours | Compensation Guidelines for Staff Employees
Unit 3 Videos: |
| Unit 4: Integrating Performance, Relations, and Compliance | Performance Management, Labor and Employee Relations, CEEO | 3.5 Hours | Disciplinary Considerations and Guidelines
Unit 4 Videos: |
Presenter Contacts
Lobo Leadership Academy is a collaboration of expertise within Human Resources and key partners across the University. The following list of departments have content that is covered in this training. If you have further questions or would like to learn more about these areas, please visit their websites or reach out to the contact emails below:
| Department | Website | |
|---|---|---|
| HR Absence Management | absence@unm.edu | https://hr.unm.edu/benefits |
| HR Client Services | clientsv@unm.edu | |
| Compliance, Ethics & Equal Opportunity | ceeo@unm.edu | https://ceeo.unm.edu |
| HR Compensation | comp@unm.edu | https://hr.unm.edu/compensation |
| HR Talent Development | talentdev@unm.edu | https://hr.unm.edu/talent-development |
| HR Labor & Employee Relations | LER@unm.edu | https://hr.unm.edu/employee-labor-relations |
Additional Training
If you participated in the Lobo Leadership Academy and want to continue building your leadership skills, Talent Development offers courses and professional development free as part of your UNM benefits. Contacted Talent Development for access and registration for these trainings. Suggested courses are listed below:
Recommended Additional Trainings
- 6 Critical Practices
- Multipliers
- Your Leadership Journey
- Resolving Workplace Conflict
- Navigating Difficult Conversations
- Hire Right
- Leading a Hybrid Workplace
- Working at the Speed of Trust
- Coaching for Peak Performance
- 5 Choices for Extraordinary Productivity
- Project Management
- Difficult Conversations
FAQs
The Lobo Leadership Academy features online modules that were developed in partnership with Human Resources and key UNM partners that were best suited to provide expertise in their respective areas. Experts in Human Resources will be on hand in the live in-person sessions to help you apply the knowledge you gain throughout this training.
Attendance at the Lobo Leadership Academy is mandatory for all staff managers and supervisors whose positions include at least one staff direct report. In-person session attendance is also required.
The primary focus of the Lobo Leadership Academy is on training UNM managers and supervisors. While individuals aspiring to leadership roles can participate, please note that our program is specifically designed for current managers and supervisors. You are welcome to join our waitlist, and we will do our best to accommodate you in the next available session. Additionally, we encourage you to explore other leadership development opportunities such as the ULead program or our self-directed Career Pathways at UNM.
Yes. Please contact us so we may add you to the waitlist.
The Lobo Leadership Academy is an in-person training, if you work at a non-Albuqurque branch campus, or are an out-of-state remote worker, please contact us to make arrangements. In-person sessions provide opportunities to network with other emerging supervisors and foster mutual learning.
If you work at a non-Albuquerque branch campus, please contact talentdev@unm.edu to make arrangements.
If you are required to attend Lobo Leadership Academy, you will receive direct communication from HR and we will automatically enroll you. However, we welcome you to contact us if you have any questions or issues regarding your attendance.
We understand that emergencies can happen. If you know in advance that you cannot attend all in-person sessions, please contact us to arrange attendance at another session. In case of an emergency, please notify the instructor of the in-person session as soon as possible to discuss next steps.
Your Participant Guide will be emailed to you before the first class. Please make sure that you either bring a laptop to access it, or print it out and bring with you; you will need it each day.
Please contact Talent Development at talentdev@unm.edu for any questions or concerns.
