Start your journey as a chief learning officer.
Develop the insights needed to identify the strategies organizations need to attract, develop, retain, and advance human capital as a chief learning officer who can anticipate and act on global, economic, and technological disruptions.
Mason's chief learning officer program, presented in partnership with industry and educational leaders, offers hands-on opportunities to design an integrated talent strategy to attract, develop, retain, and advance the talent needed to meet the business objectives; sustain a productive workforce; and add significant value to your organization.
Who Should Attend?
The ideal candidate has:
- A minimum of six or more years of experience in the learning space. Instructional systems design expertise.
- Experience managing and facilitating learning programs.
- Solid communications skills.
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
Sample Schedule
- In-Person Opening Oct. 24 - 26, 2023
- Online Sessions Nov. 1 - Dec. 13, 2023
- Mid-Program In-Person Session Jan. 9 - 10, 2024
- Online Sessions Jan. 17 - Feb. 28, 2024
- In-Person Closing March 5 -7, 2024
Program Topics
- Mission-Focused Impact 20%
- Strategic Planning 20%
- Financial and Regulatory Aspects of Learning and Development 20%
- Leadership and Culture Building 20%
- Learning Processes, Technologies, and Analytics 20%
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Implement strategic initiatives with increased confidence in personal leadership abilities and organizational knowledge.
- Demonstrate a capacity to think strategically, establishing a learning and talent development plan that supports the delivery of an organization’s objectives and strategic plan.
- Develop leadership practices that are grounded in solid organizational acumen. Communicate clearly and effectively with professionals at all levels to articulate the role of learning and talent function as an agent of organizational change. Manage processes for assessing talent development opportunities.
- Engage the talent management team and drive performance outcomes through coaching, mentoring, and sharing ideas.
Badge of Certification
This program is delivered as a non-degree, School of Business executive certificate. Attendees have the opportunity to add a badge credential from Credly for successful completion of the program to their resume for organizational recognition (internal and external) and to indicate the accomplishment of obtaining a George Mason University credential.
Program Information
Dates: October 24, 2023-March 7, 2024
Delivery: Hybrid; online sessions and in-person sessions at Mason Square (formerly the Arlington Campus)
Cost: $8,500
Personal Consultation
Contact us to schedule an advising session:
Email ❭
(703) 993-6725 ❭
“The curriculum, assignments, and virtual instructor-led sessions were engaging, thought-provoking, and ideal for this busy professional. The program expanded my knowledge in learning and development from an executive perspective and provided me with the tools to function and communicate on a C-Suite level. The knowledge I gained from the CLO program will benefit my agency and prepare me for my goal of becoming a chief learning officer."
“One of the exciting things about the CLO program is [that] participants are given the chance to identify a learning problem in their organization...with feedback from the program participants [to] create short-term and long-term goals. As a result, I put in place a strategic plan from inception, created the mission, vision, and values of the learning function that I led. To date, I still use the materials from this program and have developed great relationships with the participants.”
Meet Your Instructors
Owner, GMB Performance Group
Bud has a Master’s and Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Design from Penn State, where he taught for 20 years in both the Instructional Systems and MBA. programs.
Professor and Director of the Division of Learning Technologies, George Mason University College of Education and Human Development
Nada Dabbagh is Professor and Director of the Division of Learning Technologies in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Design from The Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Science in Math Methodology and Operations Research from Columbia University.
Former Executive, Hilton and Marriot
Kimo Kippen is a native of Hawaii as well as a speaker and advocate for learning. A former executive at Hilton and Marriott, he has also been recognized by CLO Magazine as CLO of the year 2015.
Director for Talent Management and Chief Learning Officer, Parallax Advanced Research
Dr. Dave Rude is the Director for Talent Management and Chief Learning Officer for Parallax Advanced Research, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Advancing the Science of Intelligent Teaming.
Executive Director, Center for Talent Reporting
Dr. David Vance is the Executive Director of the Center for Talent Reporting, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation and implementation of standards for human capital measurement, reporting, and management.
Associate Professor, Learning Design and Technology, George Mason University College of Education and Human Development
Dr. Williams van Rooij is associate professor in the Learning Design and Technology program, Learning Technologies Division of the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are faculty from George Mason University?
A combination of Mason faculty, adjuncts, and subject matter experts teach in the program.
How was the curriculum created and courses chosen?
An advisory council of professionals at the c-suite level help George Mason University develop the program curricula, which is dynamic and changes based on feedback and emerging practices.
Is this program eligible under the GI Bill?
Not at this time.
Are there any discounts to attend the program?
Preferred pricing for government employees is $7,650. A promotional code will be provided to those accepted into the program. Please call (703) 993-8275 if you are a Mason employee or would like to discuss a group rate.
What does the cost of the program include?
The $8,500 program cost includes all materials, activities, catering, receptions, and a certificate of completion.
How do I register and pay for the program?
You must first submit an online application. Once accepted into the program, you will be provided directions on how to register and pay.
How much time will participants need to devote to the program?
Participants should expect to spend six full days at the George Mason University Arlington Campus as well as participating in 5-6 online topics delivered in two-week increments. For each two-week topic there will be approximately 8-10 hours of learning including readings, videos, video presentations, live sessions, discussion boards, and assignments.
How are the courses conducted?
As a hybrid program, topics are covered during two multi-day in-person sessions and online.
There are six in-person days and approximately four months of online delivery.
Online topics include a combination of asynchronous components such as discussion boards, presentations, videos, and assignments, as well as live synchronous sessions. Expect one to three scheduled live sessions for each online topic. These generally start between 7 and 8 p.m. ET. Live sessions are recorded and posted the next day.
Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate is used for live online sessions. A tutorial is provided to participants in pdf form, and an optional live tutorial session is offered as well. All registered participants are given access to Blackboard approximately two weeks prior to the start of the program.
Do I get university credit for this program? Will I be graded?
This is a non-credit executive development program so you will not earn university credit. However, CEUs (continuing education units) authorized by George Mason University are available upon request. At least two weeks prior to the start of the program, please send your request to execdev@gmu.edu. You will be asked to provide additional personal information in order to have your CEUs properly recorded.
Participants will not be graded, but In order to receive a certificate of completion, participants will need to complete a minimum of 80 percent of the work assigned (including assignments, deliverables, discussion boards, and live sessions). At the end of each topic, faculty are asked to provide a summary of participant’s engagement.
How many participants are enrolled?
The maximum number of participants for a single cohort is 20.
What are some common student personas/backgrounds/job titles?
Most participants have at least six years of management experience and are at the Director level or above. Approximately half of the participants have been from the public/non-profit sector and half from the private sector. The average age of participants is 45.
Is there an application deadline?
No. Participants are admitted on a rolling basis up to the start of the program or until the cohort is full.