Management Excellence Program (MEP)

Program Overview

The Management Excellence Program (MEP) is part of a initiative out of the Office of Human Resources titled Excellerate HU. We aspire for Excellerate HU to empower our managers to be the catalysts that ensure our staff is continuously engaged and operating at a high level of performance. Through increased support, improved communication and innovative programming, HU Leaders will be able to consistently implement best practice on campus and improve the overall student experience.

With this initiative you can expect a series of improved communication strategies to get information directly to our leaders and at the forefront of change. In addition, we are offering leadership development opportunities at all levels and tenure of leadership. Developing every leader is an important first step to creating a consistently positive experience among our staff across campus.

A people manager at Howard University acts as a key liaison between senior leadership and the individuals they directly lead. They oversee daily operations and ensure effective team execution. Their primary focus is on fostering the development of their direct reports by providing coaching, guidance, and support, while also delegating tasks to empower their team members.

Ready to take the next step? Apply for the Management Excellence Program (MEP).

Program Information

Application Opens: June 1st

Application Deadline: June 30th

Applicant Confirmation + Interviews Begin: July 1st

Review Period: July 25th-July 29th

Decision Notifications: July 30th

Confirmation Deadline: August 5th

Pre-work Distribution: August 6th

Cohort Begins: September 4th

Pre-work:

CliftonStrengths Assessment
Pre-Impact Survey Assessment
Manager Conversation/Team Conversations

Program Sessions:

In-Person: One three-hour instructor led session per month on the first Tuesday, September to February.
Retrospectives: One hour virtual session on the last Tuesday of the month to participate in peer learning groups.

Manager Touch Points: Structured check-ins with your manager at three key milestones throughout the program:

Program kickoff (September) to align on goals and development focus
Mid-program (January) to review progress and adjust focus areas
Program close (April) to reflect on growth and plan next steps

Post-Impact Survey Assessment: Completed at the close of the program to measure growth, reflect on development, and assess the overall impact of the program experience.

A people manager at Howard University acts as a key liaison between senior leadership and the individuals they directly lead. They oversee daily operations and ensure effective team execution. Their primary focus is on fostering the development of their direct reports by providing coaching, guidance, and support, while also delegating tasks to empower their team members.

Step 1: Review the program objectives, curriculum, and time commitment.

We encourage you to begin the conversation with your manager about your application.

Step 2: Prepare Application Materials

A statement that addresses the following (no more than 500 words)
- Your current leadership philosophy (A leadership philosophy is a set of values, beliefs, and principles that guide your actions and decisions when leading a team or organization)
- Responses to each of the questions:
  - How would participation in the program strengthen your ability to perform in your current role?
  - How would your participation in the program benefit the university?
  - What leadership behaviors do you want to build upon/strengthen?
Current CV or resume
Recommendation Letter. The recommender should be a supervisor or someone with whom they have collaborated closely. Recommendation should include responses to each of the questions:
- How would participation in the MEP strengthen this person’s ability to perform in their current role?
- How would participation in the MEP benefit the university?
- Is there anything else that you would like to share with the selection committee about this applicant?

Step 4: Submit Application

Complete the application here.

Program Calendar

Please note that the schedule below is tentative. Dates will be confirmed before the start of the cohort.
Session	Date	Start Time	End Time	Modality
Kickoff	September 2026	10AM	1PM	In-person
Prioritizing Goals: From Identification to Execution	October 2026	10AM	1PM	In-person
Leading with the Head and Heart	November 2026	10AM	1PM	In-person
Coaching and Managing Performance	December 2026	10AM	1PM	In-person
Navigating Beyond Conflict	January 2027	10AM	1PM	In-person
Championing Excellence / Close of Program	February 2027	10AM	1PM	In-person