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 ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ. Affiliates enhance their offerings by collaborating with leadership educators within and outside of ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ, 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.