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Frequently Asked Questions



​The ASCENT Leadership Program is a collaborative effort, currently sponsored and governed by eight state agencies, to build Transformational Leadership capacity within Oregon state government. Any state employee, with manager approval, can participate in ASCENT ​programs. Our services are available to employees at all levels of state government. ASCENT seeks to create a leadership community across agencies and reinforces the notion that one can lead from any chair. ​

​Transformational leaders are purposeful, values-based, visionary, ethical and inspiring. They strive for increased self-awareness by continuously seeking feedback from all sources and incorporating it into their development. They identify needed change in organizations and enroll others in co-creating the desired future vision.​

​A state agency that contributes budget and oversight to support ASCENT program costs and employee salaries. The cost share is determined by agency size. For specific details please contact Paul Egbert, ASCENT Program Manager​​

​Sponsoring agencies, under a cooperative agreement, share the governance of the ASCENT Leadership Program. The ASCENT Learning Coalition (ALC) is the program’s governing board and is made up of agency directors or their assigned executive delegate. Key coalition activities include appointing and​ overseeing program employees, approving annual programs/services, budgets and development activities.​​​​​

​You can learn more about ASCENT by visiting the ASCENT website or by emailing ASCENT at ascent.program@ascent.oregon.gov. In addition to these options, ASCENT employees are willing to meet with individuals, teams and agency leadership to share information. We also rely on program flyers, annual informational sessions and hundreds of valued alumni to share information. Informational sessions are typically scheduled June through September of each year.
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​Any state employee, with manager approval, can participate in an ASCENT program or workshop.  
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ASCENT offers five programs:

  1. The Transformational Leadership Program​. This is a multi-month (typically 9) program, held once a year and offered either to a non-supervisory employee cohort or to a management/executive supervisory cohort.  Formerly known as the Managers’ Leadership Program (MLP) or the Aspiring Leadership Program (ALP) for non-supervisory employees. 

  2. Promise of Leadership one-day workshop, typically held five times per year.   

  3. Outward Performance, 5 half-day sessions, typically held twice per year.

  4. Leader to Leader, 16 half-day sessions, designated primarily for supervisors.

  5. Authentic Leader, three-day off-site workshop, designated primarily for senior and executive leadership.  Made available upon request only and subject to some conditions.   

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Participation in an ASCENT program is available either through application, self-enrollment or direct coordination with the ASCENT Program Manager.  Details for each program follows:

  1. The classic 9-month program is a competitive application process normally open the entire month of September consisting of essay questions to gauge readiness and willingness to explore leadership and self-development. Cohorts are typically announced in early November.

  2. The Promise of Leadership workshop for mixed agency cohorts is available for direct enrollment through Workday Learning. This can be scheduled for an internal agency team directly with the ASCENT Program Manager.

  3. Outward Performance for a mixed agency cohort is by direct enrollment in Workday Learning. This can be scheduled for an internal agency team directly with the Ascent Program Manager.

  4. A Leader to Leader Series for a mixed agency cohort is by direct enrollment in Workday Learning. This can be scheduled for an internal agency team ​di​rectly with the Ascent Program Manager.

  5. ​​The Authentic Leader workshop is scheduled directly with the Ascent Program Manager.   




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​This is ASCENT's ​most resourced and comprehensive program and is offered either to a non-supervisory employee cohort or management supervisory cohort. The rigor is significant and includes 18 workshop days, 1:1 and small group coaching, outside reading, homework and application of content outside workshop sessions. The Promise of Leadership workshop is included as one of the session days. The application is competitive, gauges readiness, willingness, and high alignment to engage in leadership and self-development. Alumni graduates recommend a cohort of 25. The program runs January to September. Tuition is $3600.​​​​​

​The workshop is 5 half-day virtual sessions  and covers mindset content and tools from the Arbinger Institute. The workshop is offered twice per year. Maximum enrollment is 35. Tuition is $795 per person or 2 for $1400. This ​may also be scheduled directly with the ASCENT Program Manager.  ​

​The LCP 360 is a prerequisite and modules support ongoing development grounded in the LCP 360 competencies and other relevant leadership topics. Sessions are virtual. Leader to Leader is 16 total  half-day sessions.  Workshops are 4-6 hours in length held every 4-8 weeks. Cohorts range from 8-15 in size.  Tuition is $1400 per person​. Please speak with the ASCENT Program Manager about program availability.    ​

​This workshop is facilitated by an outside consultant partner, held at an offsite venue, and is reserved for senior and executive level leaders. It can be provided to intact executive teams or mixed agency cohorts.  This workshop requires the LCP 360 and is followed by a 90-minute coaching debrief. The minimum cohort size is 16 with a maximum of 23. Venue is arranged by participant agency/agencies. Tuition is $2900. Tuition does not include costs for venue, travel or meals. Please speak with the ASCENT Program Manager about program availability.    ​​​​

​The ASCENT coalition established a scholarship fund to assist with the tuition burden and is applied on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please contact the ASCENT Program Manager.  ​​


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