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
The NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leaders Fellowship, proudly led by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), is a nationally recognized program dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders in postsecondary career and technical education. This year marks ACTE’s 100th anniversary, making it an especially meaningful time to be part of this program.
Cohort 8 is now underway, and we are excited to welcome our newest Fellows. Visit the Current Cohort page to meet the members of Cohort 8 and learn about the innovative work they are doing to strengthen CTE programs at their institutions.
Applications for the next cohort will open in fall 2026. We invite postsecondary institutions, businesses, and organizations that recognize the value of investing in CTE educator professional development to share this opportunity with emerging leaders in their networks.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The NextLevel Fellowship is a year-long experience that transforms CTE professionals into stronger, more effective leaders. Working alongside a cohort of peers and an experienced mentor, Fellows sharpen their skills in communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic thinking — then put those skills to work through a capstone project intended to create real, lasting change at their own institution. They publish and present their work at the Postsecondary CTE Summit, a national gathering of postsecondary professionals, in order to support others in the field. The vision is to provide professional and career growth opportunities for postsecondary CTE leaders through a memorable, individualized, and recognized fellowship.
Learn more about the NextLevel Fellowship on our program page.
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.
