The Grace E. Harris Institute sponsors a leadership development program for 25 – 30 faculty and staff each year. The program is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and experience of those in key leadership roles at VCU. During the program, participants learn about issues in higher education and at VCU, examine their own leadership strengths and challenges, meet regularly with a mentor from senior administration, and immerse themselves in real-world team projects. Fifty-two VCU faculty and staff members from both campuses have completed the highly successful training program. During 2003, the Institute began a new program, conducting specialized training for VCU department chairs.

Institute leadership principles
In both the general leadership development program and the department chairs training, participants learn a great deal about the structure and functioning of VCU. President Eugene P. Trani and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Stephen D. Gottfredson are typically guest speakers, as are other senior leaders at VCU. Leadership programs sponsored by the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute promote four specific principles of leadership, including: