This year's Immersive Weekend also celebrated a major achievement: the highest enrollment to date in the EdD in Educational Leadership program since its inception.
From October 17 to October 20, Bay Path University's EdD in Educational Leadership program held its annual Immersive Weekend, marking a significant milestone in the program's history. Students and faculty gathered on the Longmeadow campus for an inspiring weekend of learning, reflection, and connection. This year's event was particularly meaningful for two reasons: it was the only time during the academic year when all three cohorts—spanning different years—came together, creating rich opportunities for cross-cohort interaction and collaboration. Additionally, the program welcomed its first cohort from the Cambridge College Puerto Rico campus. Six of our new cohort students, along with their faculty mentor, Dr. Sol Leon, traveled to Longmeadow to participate in this transformative experience, joining classmates from across the country.
The Immersive Weekend is a hallmark of the EdD program and one of the most highly rated experiences for students in the 54-credit track. The weekend is designed to foster community, deepen academic learning, and equip students with leadership tools they will use throughout the program and beyond. A key feature of the weekend is the use of the CliftonStrengths Leadership Assessment, which helps students identify their core strengths. Students spend time unpacking their assessment results as the foundation for building individualized leadership development plans—a process they will continue to refine throughout the program.
Another weekend highlight was the introduction to action research, the methodology used for the EdD dissertation. Students learn how action research differs from traditional research approaches and how it can be applied to innovate and solve real-world problems in their educational contexts. First-year students also meet with their Community of Practice groups, small cohorts led by a faculty mentor, which provide ongoing peer support and collaborative learning throughout their doctoral journey.
The weekend offers multiple opportunities for students to connect socially and academically, starting with a Friday night dinner that brings together all three cohorts. This gathering allows first-year students to gain insight into the path ahead, while second and third-year students reflect on their progress and achievements. Dr. Natalia Blank, Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed students at the dinner, offering words of encouragement and underscoring the importance of the work they are undertaking.
A memorable feature of the weekend is the Commitment Ceremony, held midway through the event, where all students and faculty gather to mark the formal beginning of the first-year cohort's journey. This ceremony provides students across all cohorts the opportunity to verbalize their commitment to their growth and development as educational leaders.
In addition to the Commitment Ceremony, the program upholds another meaningful tradition: presenting third-year students with a compass. This symbolic gift represents the journey they have undertaken, reminding them of the importance of knowing and following their 'True North' as educational leaders. Every student in the program has received a compass since the program's first year, underscoring the idea that leadership is both an internal and external journey of purpose and direction.
This year's Immersive Weekend also celebrated a major achievement: the highest enrollment to date in the EdD in Educational Leadership program since its inception, a reflection of the growing appeal of the program and its reputation for producing innovative leaders in education.
Participants left the weekend energized, inspired, and deeply connected to one another and their faculty. Many commented on the value of meeting their peers face-to-face, building relationships that will sustain them throughout the program:
"The Immersive Weekend was a transformative experience for me," shared one student participant. "I left feeling more connected to my cohort and faculty than ever before, and I now have a clearer sense of direction—personally and professionally—thanks to the tools and insights I gained."
As the EdD in Educational Leadership program continues to grow, the Immersive Weekend remains a cornerstone experience—one that strengthens the learning community, builds leadership capacity, and reinforces Bay Path's commitment to preparing transformative educational leaders.
Please visit the Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies (HELOS) concentration page to learn about curriculum, faculty, program options, and more!
Please visit the Transformative School Leadership program page to learn about the curriculum, faculty, program options, and more!
