ROTARY DISTRICT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Academy FAQs

2025-26 Academy Year

“Take risks. Ask big questions. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; if you don’t make mistakes, you’re not reaching far enough.”

  1. Who is eligible to Participate? Any interested Rotarian is invited to apply. You must be recommended by your Club President and applications will be screened by an Admissions Committee to fill the cohort.
  2. How much time do the courses take? This is the most frequently asked question and the most difficult to answer. Each Academy participant has individual knowledge and skill levels that will determine how much time you will need to complete each assignment. On average, each module will require a minimum of 5-7 hours each week to review the resources, respond to discussion topics, prepare and submit the assignment(s) and join the twice-monthly Zoom calls. To assist you, assignment deadlines will be provided to help keep you on track.
  3. Are other meetings required? The class will meet live on Zoom twice each month with a Rotary subject matter expert speaker for the module. You are highly encouraged to attend, but these meetings will be recorded for viewing later in case a conflict in your schedule that prevents your attendance. You will want to sign up to attend the District Conference and DLA graduation ceremony scheduled in May.
  4. How does the online program work? The DLA “classroom” is online using a cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS). You will be given access to the online classroom where course materials, assignments, and worksheets are posted. Each assignment is given a due date. You should work to meet these deadlines or notify the Dean of any issues that will prevent them from turning in assignments on time.
  5. What kinds of assignments will there be? Each of the courses requires reading, watching curated videos, participating in online discussions, and taking courses from Rotary International’s Learning Center. One focus of the Academy is for you to examine your Club’s current practices and develop improvement recommendations to discuss with your Club leaders. These assignments require that you work collaboratively with club leaders and committee members to complete the assignments, so allow plenty of time for these.
  6. Are there exams/quizzes? No. Assignments are as outlined above.
  7. How much will it cost? Tuition for the Academy year is $150, paid up front. This is non-refundable once accepted into the program. We recommend that your Club or District reimburse you for your tuition upon completion of the course since the Club/District will benefit from the knowledge and skills you gain from DLA. However, reimbursement will be between you and your club/district.
  8. What equipment and software do I need? The basic Academy requirements are as follows:
    • Equipment
      • Either a PC or a Mac (Desktop or Laptop) with the latest operating system. You may be able to do some assignments on a tablet/iPad, but should not rely on this as your only computer.
      • Internet: You must have access to high-speed Internet (Fiberoptic, Cable, DSL). This can be at home, work (see below), or your local coffee shop with free, fast wifi.
      • Webcam & Headset/Microphone: These are needed to participate in “live” Zoom meetings each month.
    • Software
      • Microsoft Office, Open Office, or Apple iWorks suite. Most assignments will be submitted in MS-Word format, but any software that can read and export this format is acceptable. If you need to, you can download the FREE OpenOffice Suite from: https://www.openoffice.org.
      • Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview, or other PDF reader: The majority of the documents for download will be in Acrobat PDF format.
      • Internet browser – Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, or Mozilla Firefox recommended.
  9. Can I work from my office? Maybe! If you work in a government office, non-profit organization, or financial institution, you may not be able to access the online classroom through your organization’s firewalls and security systems. Check with your IT department, but be prepared to complete your work at home or elsewhere, if necessary.
  10. Can I get help if I need it? Of course! I will work with you to help you get comfortable using the online classroom and Zoom. I also serve as your coach to help you in getting back in the groove of “going to school,” managing your time, and answering your questions. The expert speakers for each module are also dedicated to your success and will generally be available to answer your subject matter questions throughout the course.

Roy Wood, Ph.D.

Phone:  918-882-2711

Email:   DistrictLeadershipAcademy@gmail.com