NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Fellowship
Invest in your future leaders today, celebrating ACTE’s 100 years!
A Centennial Year for ACTE and a Transformative Opportunity for You
Applications for the 2026 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Fellowship, proudly led by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), will open on September 22 and be accepted through December 15. This year marks ACTE’s 100th anniversary, making it an especially meaningful time to join this nationally recognized program.
New Fellows will be notified in early January, with the first meeting of Cohort 8 scheduled for January 28, 2026. Now offered as a registration-based initiative, the Fellowship welcomes applicants from postsecondary institutions, businesses, and other organizations committed to advancing CTE leadership.
The registration fee for accepted applicants is $3,000, which includes conference registrations and exclusive access to ACTE events and resources. With over 100 alumni already driving change in their institutions, the impact of the Fellowship speaks for itself.
Help Us Spread the Word
We invite postsecondary institutions, businesses, and organizations that recognize the importance of investing in CTE educator professional development to share the opportunity to participate in the NextLevel Fellowship.
Fellowship benefits include access to a powerful set of resources and experiences designed to elevate Fellows’ leadership and impact, including:
- Project-Based Collaboration: Tackle real campus challenges through hands-on, team-driven projects
- Expert Access: Engage with nationally recognized leaders in career and technical education
- Mentorship Connections: Receive personalized guidance from seasoned CTE professionals
- Alumni Network Membership: Join a growing community of changemakers upon successful completion
- National Visibility: Present your work at ACTE’s premier conference for postsecondary education professionals, the Postsecondary CTE Summit
- Conference Registration Included: ACTE covers registration fees for three national conferences (valued at $1610)
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The vision for the NextLevel Fellowship is to provide professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders in postsecondary career technical education (CTE) programs through a nationally recognized program that is engaging, individualized, and memorable.
NextLevel Fellows 2025 CareerTech VISION Sessions
THE FELLOWSHIP
Through this program, Fellows build their leadership abilities as they work alongside peer professionals and an experienced mentor in a year-long professional development experience. Fellows also elevate their interpersonal skills and capacity to communicate, collaborate, network, problem solve and use time and resources effectively. The core capstone project is to identify a professional objective to address in their own institution and carry it out to realize a lasting impact. This program is intended to develop the organizational leadership and management skills of postsecondary CTE professionals, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved populations. The NextLevel Fellowship also includes a research study to help determine what efforts best contribute to leadership development among postsecondary CTE professionals and the creation of resources that can be widely distributed to support others in the field.
The NextLevel Fellows will will join monthly webinars that challenge conventional thinking and practices, inspiring action to strengthen and advance CTE programs within their institutions. Fellows will explore key topics including the future of CTE, partnerships with secondary CTE and dual credit, business-education collaboration, high quality work-based learning opportunities for students, leadership skills for today’s workforce, federal policy updates, and the national and global skills gap. The program includes engaging with leaders in education and from governmental education agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE), and the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).
In addition to monthly webinars, NextLevel Fellows will participate in two required in-person meetings designed to enrich the cohort experience. These meetings will coincide with a national conference and include a visit to a nationally recognized community or technical college, where Fellows will explore exemplary programs, observe business partnerships in action, and engage with campus leaders. The Fellows are invited to participate in three national conferences: the National Policy Seminar, the Postsecondary CTE Summit, and ACTE’s CareerTech VISION. While attendance at the National Policy Seminar and VISION is optional, it is strongly encouraged. Participation in the Postsecondary CTE Summit is required. Each conference features in-person meetings, activities, and presentation opportunities for Fellows.
Frequently Asked Questions
- CTE Professionals working with adult students and/or adult postsecondary programs
- CTE Professionals who have two or more years’ experience in leadership and/or administration in a community college, career center, or university offering certificate or associate degree programs, or CTE-related organization with regular contact with postsecondary students.
- CTE Professionals who have an interest in addressing the needs of underserved populations and creating change at their institution
This program is not intended for CTE professionals based in secondary education who primarily serve middle or high school students (including those involved in dual or concurrent enrollment) or for instructors in postsecondary CTE who do not hold leadership or administrative roles.
- Attend monthly webinars with your cohort and guest speakers
- Create a “Make It Better” plan (institutional area of change)
- Submit all Program of Work activities by deadlines through Google Classroom
- Participate in follow-up surveys and focus groups during and after fellowship year
- Optional Attend ACTE’s National Policy Seminar and attend NextLevel Fellowship meetings/activities ( Crystal City, VA, Mar. 22-25)
- Required Attend ACTE’s Postsecondary CTE Summit and attend NextLevel Fellowship meetings/activities (Crystal City, VA, Sept. 16-18)
- Optional Attend ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2026 and attend NextLevel Fellowship meetings/activities ( New Orleans, LA, Dec. 3-5)
The total cost of the program is $3,000. This fee covers your tuition, as well as complimentary registration for three ACTE conferences and the school site visit. Please note that travel expenses associated with attending these events are not included and will be your responsibility.
