Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Xx Xx

I do not like to start out in a negative fashion, but I will take that step knowing that this will be published with my name clearly attached. As someone who has had a lot of experience with a number of post-secondary education (masters +>60 credits), I have found the University of Minnesota and particularly the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development (administrative licensure program) difficult to navigate. I initially walked away from the program as it wasn't meeting my needs as an urban educator and because they couldn't develop a concrete plan for allowing me to reach my goals. I came back to the program determined to complete the program a number of years later and found it even more difficult to develop a plan. It seemed based on an effort to sell me further licenses (they actually listed them like a check-off list at my initial readmit meeting) and more credits and not on my actual experiences, needs or personal goals. The program is - in its essence - competency based by state law. But when I pushed back and tried to present my background, I was told I had no "leadership background" and that my experience was based on a bunch of "projects." The program that was designed for me to meet the program requirements obviously had not taken into account my background though they waived a number of small credit courses - but required me to take and retake a number of courses because the "competencies had changed." Yet, I could find no effort to use either set of competencies - old or new - to support their decision. Overall, I have determined to complete the program simply because I want to check it off and move on - not because it gets at my joy of learning or because I find the courses applicable to my work. Overall, I have found the program to be very top down and threatening when questions arise. The need to protect the integrity and reputation of the program is often referenced, but attempts to meet the needs of the students are hard to find. Again, I would have preferred to write a positive review - but I am not able to do that based on my experience.