Frequently Asked Questions

Drexel University has long been committed to developing women leaders in academics. This comes from a legacy of being home to the first medical school for women in the world and from working with leaders in medicine and dentistry for more than 20 years in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® program (ELAM). Recognizing the paucity of women leaders in fields related to STEM, ELAM® program has extended its expertise to develop ELATES. Graduates of ELATES will contribute to leadership capacity in their institutions and across the nation.

Yes. Applications generally open in November for the fellowship year that runs the following August through March. See the Application and Current Fellows pages for more information.

 The early-bird registration fee for applications completed by December 15, 2023 for the 2024-2025 Fellowship year is $12,500. The regular registration fee, for applications completed by February 1, 2024, is $14,500. The registration fee covers the costs of materials, speaker and consultant fees, and special events. ELATES' program fee covers. 15 days in session, distance learning activities throughout the fellowship year, course materials, conference site expenses and special events. In addition to the program fee, the sponsoring institution is responsible for travel plus room and board for the three in-residence sessions (approximately $7,000). Travel and lodging for deans/provosts attending the Leaders Forum is the responsibility of the sponsoring institution. Meeting materials and meals are provided for Forum participant. The overall costs for the ELATES program are comparable to other national leadership programs in higher education and substantially less than comparable private-sector leadership programs.

Learn More About the Application

ELATES is an intensive, year-long program requiring 8-10 hours a week committed to readings, interviews, project development, and online and telephone discussions with other Fellows and faculty. While most Fellows successfully complete the program while continuing their other responsibilities, we strongly recommend that candidates be given some release time and that projects be designed to complement their institutional leadership work. During the ELATES program year, Fellows attend 15 days of on-site meetings, divided into three sessions of approximately one week each (August, November and March), all in the Philadelphia area.

Learn More About the Application

The admissions committee, which includes deans, senior administrators and other nationally recognized leaders in academia, review all application materials submitted by the candidates. They consider individual potential, institutional commitment to foster that individual’s leadership opportunities, and a variety of diversity criteria including race, ethnicity, geographic region of school, type of school and area of professional studies.

Yes. If your research is in the area of engineering, computer science, biology, chemistry, math, physics, other STEM fields, and you have a full-time faculty appointment as associate professor or professor in an accredited university, you are eligible to apply. The admissions committee considers applicant goals and institutional leadership potential. Contact ELATES at elates@drexel.edu if you are interested in the program but are uncertain about your eligibility based on your disciplinary appointment and/or area of research specialty.

To be considered for the ELATES program, candidates must hold at least the rank of associate professor, and have some significant administrative experience. The pathway to organizational leadership is built upon credibility as a scholar and experience as a manager. To be qualified for senior institutional leadership and eligible for this program, candidates ideally should hold tenure and be well on their way to full professorship.

Your application materials must all be submitted online by the relevant application deadline (early bird or standard). Your nomination and recommendations have a due date about a week later. You are able to start your application and return to it later to complete it. Only completed applications submitted by the deadlines will be considered.

Learn More About the Application

We ask that all materials, including nomination and recommendation letters, be submitted via the online application system by the due dates. However, we appreciate that there may be extenuating circumstances. Please send an email to elates@drexel.edu to discuss late submission requests.