Decode the Org: Communication, Leadership, and Culture

July 12-22, 2027 Rose Hill

4 credits

Whether it’s a group project, a sports team, a student club, or your very first job, you are already part of organizations every single day. But what makes some teams thrive while others completely fall apart?

In this immersive two-week academy, you won't just sit back and read about leadership—you will test it in real time. Step into high-stakes scenarios where you'll command simulated corporate crisis rooms, run environmental sensory audits at the New York Botanical Garden, build ethical AI communication strategies, and tackle executive boardroom pressure cookers at Fordham Westchester.

Through hands-on challenges, self-assessments, and off-campus field experiences, you will discover your personal leadership style, master emotional intelligence (EQ), and learn how to influence people, bridge digital divides, and resolve high-pressure conflicts. You'll finish the course by stepping into a chaotic mock workplace for The Ultimate Workplace Rescue Challenge, pitching real turnaround strategies to executive leadership. Leave with a battle-tested communication toolkit and the confidence to lead anywhere.

Students will:

  • Discover Your Style: Take real-world self-assessments to unlock your personal communication, conflict, and leadership profiles
  • Master Crisis Management: Run live "Crisis Room" simulations and map out stakeholder priorities when things go wrong.
  • Navigate Digital & AI Frontiers: Learn how to manage information overload, write for digital spaces, and use AI strategically.
  • Experience Professional Environments: Apply emotional intelligence (EQ) during off-campus learning experiences at NYBG and executive boardroom challenges at Fordham Westchester.
  • Solve Real Workplace Chaos: Team up for the final Workplace Rescue Challenge to turn around a struggling organization and pitch your strategy.

Overall Takeaways

Students gain a battle-tested toolkit in crisis management, digital/AI strategy, and emotional intelligence. Through off-campus audits at NYBG, executive simulations at Fordham Westchester, and a final workplace turnaround pitch, students develop the high-level communication, leadership, and collaboration skills required to succeed in high school, college, and modern careers.

Instructor Bio

A seasoned higher education leader with over 35 years of experience, Dr. Grant Grastorf serves as the Academic Operations Administrator at Fordham University’s Westchester campus. He holds both a Master of Science in Education and a Doctor of Education from Fordham, specializing in leadership, administration, and policy, with a focus on organizational culture.

Throughout his tenure at Fordham, Dr. Grastorf has taught courses in Organizational Communications and Leadership, Vision, and Strategy within the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. His deep commitment to community and governance is reflected in his 14-year leadership as President of the Fordham University Association (2009–2023), as well as his roles as Past-President and current Treasurer of the Fordham Kiwanis Club. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Trustees for the Atmosphere Charter Academy in New York City.

Dr. Grastorf’s contributions to leadership and community service have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Top Small Workplace in the Hudson Valley award (2016), the Walter Zeller Fellowship Award (2012), and the Alice Stone Ilchman Award (2004). He is also a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Course Schedule

WEEK 1: MECHANICS, CULTURE & CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Day 1: Cracking the Communication Code

  • 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Group Orientation (Keating Hall)
  • 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Welcome, Class Norms & Team Icebreakers
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | What is Org Comm & Why Does It Matter? (Foundations & Historical Theories)

Day 2: Communication Styles & Campus Culture

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | The Transactional Model & Style Self-Assessment | Style Translation Challenge
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Fordham Rose Hill Campus & Admissions Tour

Day 3: Pressure Test: Crisis Management & Stakeholders

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | When Things Go Wrong: The "Crisis Room" Simulation
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Stakeholder Mapping Grid & The Telephone Misalignment Drill

Day 4: Signal vs. Noise: Overload & Active Listening

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Taming Information Overload & Active Listening Self-Assessment
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | FIELD TRIP: New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) — Rooted in Empathy: Sensory Audit & Signal Recovery.  (Unplug for a quiet walk, observe how environmental space impacts communication, and practice active/sensory listening without digital noise.)

Day 5: Organizational Culture & The "Culture in a Box" Pitch

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Culture & Climate | Culture Clash & Fordham Campus Audit
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Healthy Workplaces & Interactive "Culture in a Box" Pitch

WEEK 2: THE DIGITAL FRONTIER, EQ & THE RESCUE CHALLENGE

Day 6: Turning Friction into Focus: Conflict & Feedback

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Conflict Styles & Feedback Loops | Self-Assessment Profile
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Interactive Negotiation & De-escalation Drills

Day 7: The Digital Workspace: AI, Persuasion & Tone

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Sync vs. Async Tools, Tone & Digital Etiquette | Silent Workplace Challenge
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | AI in Communication: Strategic Prompting & The AI Workplace Fixer

Day 8: Team Dynamics & High-Stakes Decision Making

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Leadership Styles Self-Assessment | Secret Leadership Construction Challenge
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Silent Whiteboard Relay & "Have a Heart" Decision Simulation

Day 9: Empathy in Action: Emotional Intelligence & High-Pressure Teamwork

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Leading with EQ | EQ Self-Assessment & Personal Identity Mapping
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | FIELD TRIP: Fordham Westchester — The "Boardroom Pressure Cooker" Challenge. (Step into executive conference suites for a corporate crisis simulation. Teams manage live "EQ curveballs," practice real-time de-escalation, and navigate boardroom pressure under tight time constraints.)

Day 10: The Ultimate Workplace Rescue Challenge

  • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Final Challenge Prep: Step into a chaotic workplace, handle live updates, draft an AI policy, and build a turnaround strategy using everything learned across the two weeks.
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Final Team Pitches & Showcase

 

Course Details

Decode the Org: Communication, Leadership, and Culture

July 12-July 22, 2027

4 credits
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
Instructor: Dr. Grant Grastorf 

Course Number: ORGL-2700-RT2

CRN: TBA

Please note that this is a college course and that Fordham students may also be enrolled in this class, which will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about life at Fordham. 

2027 applications will open in late November. Please sign up to stay informed about the Fordham Summer Leaders Academy, or email us with questions!

Tuition

Residential: $6,173.00 (2026 rate; 2027 prices will be available in December)
Tuition for the residential program includes the course, course materials, housing, meals, and excursions in and outside of class. Move-in for this program is Sunday afternoon, the day before classes begin. Please click here for a more detailed calendar of important dates.

Commuter: $4966.00 (2026 rate; 2027 prices will be available in December)
Tuition for commuters includes the course, course materials, lunches, and excursions in and outside of class. Additional meals are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Students may wish to bring funds for incidentals, shopping at the Fordham Bookstore, souvenirs, and any personal items they wish to purchase.

Apply

Application deadlines:

Course and housing: The deadlines for 2027 will be posted by December 2026. Please note that admission decisions are rolling until the class is full, and course caps are around 20 students. The deadline to be considered for a limited number of need-based discounts is April 1. We recommend early application.

Application Requirements: this credit-bearing course is open to rising high school seniors; exceptional rising juniors will also be considered. The course is recommended for those with a 3.0 or better. No prior experience with the subject matter is required.

To apply, you will need:

  • a copy of your high school transcript and your fall report card if the grades are not reflected on your transcript.
  • a writing sample from one of your high school courses.
  • a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor if you are a rising junior.

Please make note of the course details above because you will select your course as part of your application.

There is a $75 fee to apply and a $300 deposit to secure your seat. Housing requires a $50 deposit. All payments will be treated as deposits toward your final bill.

Immersion 2 Resident Move-In/Move-Out

Date  Resident Information
June 12 All medical forms and consents due
Sunday, July 12 Move-in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., all Immersion 2 students 
Saturday, July 17 Move-out between 6 and 9 p.m., Immersion 2 One-Week students
Friday, July 23 Move-out before 10 a.m., Immersion 2 Two-Week students

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