Presidents Circles are collaborative and dynamic learning cohorts where small groups of new presidents meet online monthly to support each other’s growth, share experiences, and engage real issues of leadership and transition that impact college and university presidents. Presidents Circles offer a confidential, trusted space for personal and professional development, fostering a community of practice and mutual learning. They are led by professional executive coaches who are seasoned former presidents. We are grateful to be able to offer this new opportunity at an affordable rate.
CIC is delighted to partner with Academic Search and its Executive Coaching Practice to offer inaugural Presidents Circles, designed specifically for first-time presidents at CIC member institutions.
The program fee is significantly discounted compared to similar opportunities, thanks to the generous support of Credo: Powered by Carnegie.
Location: Virtual
Dates: November 2025 through April 2026
Program Fee: $1,500 per participant
Application Deadline: Friday, October 10
Participant Eligibility: Presidents Circles are open to all first-time CIC member presidents who began serving in their roles on July 1, 2024, or later.
Benefits of CIC’s Presidents Circles
CIC’s Presidents Circles will be led by Academic Search Senior Executive Coaches who are both professional executive coaches and seasoned former presidents. This is a unique opportunity for new presidents to:
- Build resilience and leadership skills
- Share experiences with peers, including the transition to the presidency
- Learn about and reflect on leadership and impact
- Talk about real issues in an authentic space
- Participate fully and see the presidency as ongoing work
- Create a community of practice that is president-driven
“Supporting college and university leadership and advancing institutional excellence are two of CIC’s strategic priorities. At a time when leadership is particularly challenging, Presidents Circles provide support and expertise to meet the needs of our first-time member presidents—from the practical to the emotional. CIC is grateful for this partnership with Academic Search to offer this valuable opportunity.”
—Marjorie Hass, President, CIC
Program Structure
Each Presidents Circle will consist of six to nine participants and one senior executive coach. The agenda for each meeting will focus on key issues to be determined by presidents and coaches, providing reflective time in a confidential and trusted space for new presidents to share personal experiences, reflect on their leadership, and collaborate with their peers and executive coach to engage campus challenges and priorities that first-time presidents often face.
Presidents Circles will meet online for 90 minutes six times from November through April, in addition to one optional in-person meeting in January during CIC’s 2026 Presidents Institute. Presidents should be prepared to participate in all virtual sessions, engage fully with the discussion, and are encouraged to engage with others in their cohort between sessions. Up to two individual coaching sessions will also be available to each president.
“We have a responsibility to support and sustain our new presidents, especially in the current context. In addition to one-one-one presidential coaching, Presidents Circles offer a proven and creative way to help meet that responsibility. Presidents Circles are a powerful and strategic investment in the success of new presidents.”
—Steven Titus, Vice President and Executive Coaching Practice Leader, Academic Search
Application Details
The brief application form provides opportunities to share your priorities as president and your Presidents Circle outcomes or goals. Space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are due Friday, October 10.
Program Supporters
The program fee is significantly discounted compared to similar opportunities thanks to the generous support of Credo: Powered by Carnegie.
Contact Information
Please contact Christoph Kunkel, CIC senior vice president and chief of staff, at ckunkel@cic.edu or (202) 552-8971 or Steve Titus, Academic Search vice president and executive coaching practice leader, at steve.titus@academicsearch.org or (507) 429-9730 with program questions.