Apply for the 2027 Cohort

Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 LIFT cohort, which will run from January through October 2027. We invite interested CSU faculty and professional staff to review the information below and contact Shilpa Kedar or Colette Hart with any questions.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. Apply today!

Program Overview

The LIFT program is an opportunity for CSU faculty and professional staff to further develop leadership and innovation skills in the context of higher education, with the goal of expanding CSU’s capacity to lead change across the institution. This eight-month intensive, highly-focused program is based on learning imperatives to build and lead with a flexible mindset. The program combines engagement with internal and external leaders, exciting speakers on leadership in the context of higher education, innovation theory research and opportunities to practice what is learned in the higher education environment. 

Program components include: 

• Workshops and Seminars: Deep dives into topics like collaboration, change management, innovation, lean problem solving and design thinking through the higher education lens
• External Learning: Opportunities  to connect with peers and leaders in higher education who are showcasing best practices in innovation
• Capstone Project: Team-based final project and presentation that will identify a CSU-specific challenge where fellows can apply their new skills; includes guidance from professional mentors

Learn more about the befits of this program:

Eligibility

LIFT is open to all CSU faculty and professional staff who hold a meaningful leadership role at the University — whether formal or informal — and are ready to use this program as a catalyst for personal growth and institutional impact. An ideal Fellow:

• Leads at CSU in some capacity: through teams, projects, initiatives, committees, councils, or advisory and representative bodies
• Is energized by bold change and sees themselves as an active contributor to CSU's future
• Brings a constructive, forward-looking orientation to the challenges and opportunities facing the University — including a willingness to navigate change and contribute to an evolving culture
• Is curious about innovation — eager to ask better questions, challenge assumptions and find new ways of doing things
• Is genuinely committed to their own growth and open to new ways of thinking and leading

Schedule

A welcome reception will be held the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026 with President Bloomberg. Following the reception, the LIFT program sessions are scheduled for Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates in 2027: 

• Friday, January 29
• Friday, February 26
• Friday, March 19
• Friday, April 16
• Friday, May 21
• Friday, August 27
• Friday, September 17
• Friday, October 29

Program Commitment

LIFT is a highly interactive experience. Its value — for each Fellow and for the cohort as a whole — depends on full, active participation. Fellows are expected to:

• Attend all sessions and activities in person, including the external field experiences, arriving on time and staying for the full duration
• Complete assigned readings, reflections and project work between sessions
• Actively engage in discussions, collaborative activities and peer learning 

Before applying, please review the schedule carefully. Every element of the program is intentional and cumulative — the program is designed to be experienced whole. Because so much of the learning happens through peer conversation and action-learning team work, missing a session means missing ground that is difficult to recover — and when a Fellow is absent, the whole cohort feels it.

Cost

Thanks to generous support from KeyBank and the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, the full cost of the LIFT program has been significantly subsidized. Fellows contribute $2,800 — payable through CSU professional development funds available to all eligible employees.

Questions

For questions about the program, expectations or eligibility, contact Shilpa Kedar or Colette Hart. For professional development funds-related questions, please reach out to Meghan Salkin.