Leaders in higher education across the United States are learning how to bring about organizational change through a series of online courses from Cornell University.

"Proactive Leadership in Higher Education" consists of four two-week courses to help leaders in higher education build support for their ideas while retaining effective working relationships across divisions and departments.

Administered through eCornell, the series starts Sept. 21 (registration later that week is possible) and costs $2,500 to enroll. Those who complete it receive a certificate from eCornell. For more information, call: 1-866-eCornell (1-866-326-7635) or visit this Web site: http://www.ecornell.com/catalog/iccd.

The courses provide easy-to-understand tactics on how to persuade and implement change. They are based on lessons in proactive leadership and building political competence within an organization, taught by Samuel Bacharach, the McKelvey-Grant Professor of Labor Management at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the director of the ILR School's Institute for Workplace Studies. The program adapts Bacharach's workplace concepts -- described in his book "Get Them on Your Side" (Platinum Press, 2005) -- for the academic arena.

The higher education course series is facilitated by Barbara Viniar, executive director of the Institute for Community College Development at Cornell. Said Viniar: "We have taken Professor Bacharach's outstanding courses in proactive leadership and augmented them with content that specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by leaders in higher education. The result is an outstanding program that provides a framework for leaders who must create change and teaches them how to get things done."

Those who took the first series of courses in spring 2005 said they found it highly beneficial.

"Very good material. I am already making changes in my leadership style and direction," said Steve Joiner, a dean at Lubbock Christian University.

And Tom Erney of Columbus State Community College said: "The instructor went beyond the call of duty. She worked with me beyond the course to further pursue my interest in my proposed change initiative."

There is a one-week break following the first two courses in the higher education series. The series is expected to repeat in spring 2006.