Staff learning initiative receives national honors
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and C² Technologies, Inc. received a 2026 Brandon Hall Group Human Capital Management (HCM) Bronze Excellence Award in August 2026 for UMGC’s Leadership Learning and Development Program (LLDP). Entries were evaluated on criteria including alignment with business needs; program design and delivery; user experience, innovation, and creativity; and effectiveness and impact.
Developed in partnership with C² Technologies, Inc., UMGC’s Global Employee Experience, Learning, and Development team, and UMGC subject matter experts, the LLDP was launched in 2024 and has received industry recognition for its Foundations of Strategic Thinking course, part of its foundational track. The course has received honors from MarCom, Davey, NYX, AVA Digital, dotCOMM, and the Vega Digital Awards.
All UMGC employees are encouraged to complete a shared foundational track, which includes courses on strategic thinking, workplace communication skills, fostering a growth mindset, and emotional intelligence. After completing foundational courses, employees can then join one of three tracks, based on their role: emerging leaders, first-level leaders, or mid-level leaders.
During its first year, more than 90 percent of UMGC employees completed the foundational track, according to program data, while participant surveys showed course value and relevance ratings in the 80–90 percent range.
In 2026, UMGC expanded the program by launching an emerging leader track—which received nearly 60 applications for a 20-learner cohort—and by adding new offerings to the foundational track.
The mid-level leader track, launched in fall 2025, focuses on leadership development and peer learning across the university. Reflecting on the experience, Dan Gallagher, director of learner support services, described the program in two words, “opportunity” and “responsibility,” noting that it provided “a deeper understanding of leadership priorities.”
Vicky Robinson, senior director of design, said the track was “a great opportunity to network” and that learning with colleagues across global locations and departments provided “a unique and diverse set of viewpoints.”
Carolene Curtis, senior director of student records and evaluation, said the learning experience in the mid-level track has strengthened her ability to “translate organizational strategy into meaningful action” and reinforced that effective middle leadership means “connecting strategic priorities to the work employees perform every day.”
The LLDP curriculum was designed following a comprehensive training needs study that gathered insights from 250 UMGC staff across all levels and areas of the university. Beyond the foundational track, the program incorporates applied learning experiences, tabletop exercises, skill assessments, and mentorship. These experiences help strengthen participants’ ability to support and lead teams, while mentorship connects them with colleagues across UMGC who can share insights from their own roles and experience.
According to a recent emerging leaders program survey, 100 percent of respondents rated the experience as “excellent” or “good.”
