Employee Leadership

Passport
Engagement | Dedication | Commitment | Excellence

Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport A

 What makes someone a leader? How can one
person make a difference?
“There is no passion to be found playing small in settling
for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
—Nelson Mandela

Consider people like Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Malala

Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, John F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks, Martin
Luther King Jr and Elijah Harper. Their words and actions have
influenced millions and changed history.
The Employee Leadership Passport (ELP) is a feature of our
Signature Employee Experience in the Second Edition of Our Book
of Commitments.
At Centennial College, we believe that everyone has the capacity
for transformative leadership. Centennial’s Employee Leadership
Passport is open to all members of our community: Full time and
contract employees from all employee groups (faculty, support staff
and administration).

What is the Employee Leadership Passport?

“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one
million realities.” —Maya Angelou

As a learning centered college, Centennial is deeply committed to

lifelong learning. The Employee Leadership Passport is your chance to
challenge yourself, to take risks, to learn about yourself and others,
and to grow.
The work and activities required to achieve the Employee Leadership
Passport will be largely self-directed, flexible and tailored to individual
learning needs. During this two year program, you will accomplish and
document your leadership experiences in your “passport”, an
e-Portfolio, to qualify for this designation.
Once you have completed all of the Employee Leadership Passport
requirements, you will achieve a Centennial College Certificate of
Recognition. This accomplishment can be added to your resumé as a
tangible demonstration of your commitment to positive development,
initiative and self-motivation.

2 Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport

What kind of leader do you want to be?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned
citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that
ever has.” —Margaret Mead

Centennial’s Leadership Competency Framework outlines a number

of core leadership competencies that inform our ELP.

In
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Cu d enc
C ltiv es
Re ritic ate
la l a s
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ps
Influences
and Cultivates Models
Critical Agility

De
es

Relationships

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Sh

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el

Focus
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od

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Innovates
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Student
and Success Develops
Inspires Leadership
Creativity Capacity
Values

Plans for the Future

Anticipates
A great leader…

yy Innovates & Inspires Creativity

Champions innovation and continuous improvement by challenging
the status quo, presenting new approaches, ideas and solutions,
and encouraging others to do the same. Maintains a supportive
environment to develop and implement new approaches effectively
balancing risk-taking and return on investment.

Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport 3

 yy Influences & Cultivates Critical Relationships
Builds effective and influential working relationships (internally and
externally) and collaborates to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

yy Models Agility
Demonstrates both the focus and flexibility necessary to lead self
and others during continuous change and ambiguity, while
delivering results and maintaining exceptional levels of service to
students.

yy Develops Leadership Capacity

Identifies and actively develops the leadership talent necessary to
realize the College’s vision and successfully execute its strategy.

yy Plans for the Future

By taking a longer-term perspective, anticipates the implications of
emerging academic and economic trends, and spots promising
opportunities that align with the strategic priorities of the College.

yy Leads with Honesty, Integrity and Ethics

Exhibits uncompromising integrity and commitment to values,
human resource principles and business conduct policies. Builds
trust and instills self-confidence through mutually respectful,
ongoing communication.

yy Models Leadership in a Diverse, Global Environment

The diversity that is at the core of Centennial’s student population
and in our workforce demands that leaders understand the basis
of inclusion and social justice. We are committed to leading the
internationalization of the learning environment for all.

4 Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport

Getting Started
“Education is the mother of leadership.” —Wendell Willkie

An ELP Call for Applications Broadcast is sent to Centennial College

community once a year in the summer semester.
To register, complete the Centennial College Employee Leadership
Passport Application Form available on Centennial Central and email
to colt@centennialcollege.ca
https://centennialcentral.ca/employee-leadership-passport

Employee Leadership Passport Requirements

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader
takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but
ought to be.” —Rosalynn Carter

To complete the program and attain a Centennial College Certificate

of Recognition, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Leadership Self-Assessment Tool
Once your application has been processed and accepted,
you will receive an email link to complete an online
self-assessment of your leadership strengths and areas
for development.

2. Leadership 101 Workshop

This is a mandatory, foundational workshop where you will
receive your Employee Leadership Passport kit in addition
to detailed information about how to access your own
personal e-Portfolio.

3. Via Character Strengths Workshop

Offered once a year through the Centre for Organizational
Learning and Teaching (COLT), this workshop will help you to
discover your strengths and values and how they pertain to
your own leadership style.

Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport 5

 4. ELP Community of Practice
You will be invited to participate in an ELP Community of
Practice (CoP) which includes forums, discussions and face-
to-face meetings to help provide you with additional support
as you continue to expand on your leadership skills. Detailed
information, including dates, will be emailed to you once
available.

5. Elective #1: Two of the following workshops/courses

(Completed during the two-year program)
Note: Most of the below are offered through the Centre for
Organizational Learning & Teaching (COLT). More information
can be found in the COLT Calendar of Offerings, available
Centennial Central https://centennialcollege.ca/teaching-
excellence-academic-quality-events

a. Crucial Conversations
This two day workshop will provide you with insight and
techniques on how to overcome uncomfortable situations
by learning how to speak and be heard. As a leader, being
able to communicate successfully is an essential skill
which entails establishing a good rapport, knowing how to
express ideas and also considering the other party in this
process.

b. Pathways to Administration
This program is great for anyone looking to expand their
knowledge on the various areas of self and peer
management. You will have the opportunity to reflect upon
your own leadership style and learn about the various
processes, changes and operational functions involved in
managing within a postsecondary environment, while
learning how to connect, engage and empower team
members. Completion of program will provide you with a
Statement of Recognition certificate which you can include
in your ePortfolio.

6 Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport

c. Global Citizenship and Equity in Education Course
(TLHE-718)
This course, offered as part of the Teaching and Learning
in Higher Education Program will focus on developing
knowledge and skills required to live and work in a diverse
world. Excellent leaders are able to lead their teams based
on respect, equity, social justice, among others and this
course will focus on our social responsibility as an
individual and as part of a higher educational environment.

d. Advancing College Leadership (ACL) and Advancing

Academic Leadership (AAL)
This program is designed for aspiring leaders interested in
exploring leadership roles within post-secondary education. 
Participants are engaged in dialogue and reflection about
critical issues impacting the complex and rapidly changing
environment of the college system. This blended-learning
program offering combines face-to-face and online
collaboration and conversation to provide a suite of
offerings focused on the key competencies and
characteristics of leadership development and the
increasingly complex needs of our educational institution. 
You must complete three or more workshops in either
program to include as part of your ELP.

e. A Leadership Course
Any leadership or management course that offer resources
for both new and seasoned leaders to become more adept
at developing employees, inspiring and guiding teams,
managing change, and effectively influencing stakeholders
across an organization.

Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport 7

 6. Elective #2: Minimum of three self-directed leadership
experiences (Completed during the two-year program)
These experiences will focus on further developing your
leadership competencies. You will be required to submit
artifacts to support your involvement for each of them,
including a reflective narrative.
a. Global Citizenship and Equity Learning Experience
(GCELE)
Volunteer for a GCELE (domestic or international).
You may even want to submit a GCELE proposal of
your own. For more information, please contact:
gcei@centennialcollege.ca

b. Centennial College Sloan Leadership Academy

Volunteer to support student leadership development
through programming associated with the Centennial
College Sloan Leadership Academy. This may include:
offering a workshop/seminar for students, serving as a
staff lead for Student Leadership Conferences, or being a
staff lead for LeaderShape and leadership academy retreat
programming. For more information, please contact:
leadershape@centennialcollege.ca

c. Research and Scholarship

Contribute new knowledge. Lead the conversation. This
experience can take a number of different forms, including
carrying out internally or externally funded research as a
principal or co-investigator; publishing an article, book
chapter or book; evaluating a component of your own
teaching or service delivery in your division; presenting at
an academic or professional conference, or other.

For information about the Scholarship of Teaching and

Learning Fund (SoTL) and for coaching on research, please
contact: The Centre for Organizational Learning and
Teaching (COLT), colt@centennialcollege.ca

For information about Applied Research, Innovation and

Entrepreneurship Services (ARIES) funding, contact
aries@centennialcollege.ca

8 Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport

d. Volunteer Experience in Canada
Complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer activity with
a recognized not-for-profit community organization. There
are many options to choose from, including Imagine
Canada (www.imaginecanada.ca), Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.ca), and more.

e. On-Campus Leadership Experience

Give back to our Centennial community by participating as
a volunteer in a minimum of three recognized events or
activities. Examples include: Student or peer mentorship/
coaching programs; Centennial Learns; Centennial Day;
Convocation; Centennial Student Orientations; Student
Engagement Week and any events that have volunteer
opportunities.

f. A Leadership “Product”
Demonstrate your commitment, creativity and
entrepreneurship by initiating, developing and
implementing an end product that clearly demonstrates
leadership competencies and is not recognized in any
of the above categories. This could include a social
justice activity inside or outside the College; a
presentation (workshop, webinar, talk or other) to
students, peers/colleagues and/or community members;
or an initiative that results in a positive change for a large
number of people. This cannot be part of your job role. This
experience is intended to go beyond the scope of your work.

Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport 9

 Completing and Submitting Your Passport
“Earn your leadership every day.” —Michael Jordan

The Employee Leadership Passport is a self-directed program and

while we are here to provide support during the program, it is
ultimately your responsibility to track and document your progress.
Please note that throughout the program we highly recommend that
you document and reflect on each of your experiences using an
ePortfolio. Institutionally, the college supports and will provide
training using the eCentennial ePortfolio tool, however, you can use
any similar web based application to document your ELP.
Once you have completed all of the ELP requirements, email the
weblink of your Employee Leadership Passport ePortfolio to the
Centre for Organizational Learning and Teaching (COLT), colt@
centennialcollege.ca
Your submission will be reviewed and the COLT office will contact you
to confirm that you have met all of the eligibility requirements
described below:
- All ELP components/requirements must be documented in
your e-Portfolio. This includes artifacts that demonstrate your
completion of each component of the program, such as
mandatory workshops, two offerings in Elective #1 and three
accomplishments from Elective #2

- You must include a reflective narrative statement of at least

one page, 12 point font, double-spaced, one-inch margins

- Your ePortfolio must be easy to navigate, well organized,

professional and visually appealing

10 Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport

Once your completion is confirmed, you will be recognized at
Centennial Day where you will be presented with a Certificate
of Recognition, signed by the Centennial College President.
If you have any questions or concerns, please connect with:
Centre for Organizational Learning and Teaching
Progress Campus, Room B2-10 or
email colt@centennialcollege.ca

Centennial College’s Employee Leadership Passport 11

 centennialcollege.ca

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