The Leadership Development Program is constructed on the idea that all students have the capacity for leadership.
There are 3 levels in the program: Green, Gold, and Capstone. The program is primarily based on the Social Change Model of Leadership where each level focuses on different aspects of the model.
All students begin with the Green Leadership Certificate. From there, students have the opportunity to progress through increasing certificate levels as they grow and excel as leaders.
The Leadership Development Program also offers an Additional Focus in one of two Identity-Based Affinity Groups for students to further explore their identities. Proud Eagles for LGBTQIA+ students and In Living Color for BIPOC students.
Sign up to Join the Leadership Development Program
Level One: Green Leadership Certificate
During this level, you will learn how to:
- Connect your values to your actions
- Identify your strengths and areas of growth that guide your leadership style
- Make meaningful connections and network with your peers
- Develop your personal definition of leadership.
Activities during this level include:
- Engaging in fun, interactive workshops
- Expanding your professional development through participation in the Leadership and Diversity Conferences
- Working one-on-one with a mentor throughout the year
- Connecting to leadership opportunities on campus
Level Two: Gold Leadership Certificate
Once you complete the Green Leadership Certificate, you may move onto the Gold Certificate.
During this level you will learn to:
- Learn how to create a healthy foundation for inter- and intra-group relationships
- Practice interpersonal communication skills in a variety of conversation styles
- Learn a range of tools and strategies for group work
- Practice the effective use of group skills among diverse perspectives
- Develop group skills for operating in power-with
Activities during this level include:
- Fun, interactive workshops with other students in the program
- Practice and experience facilitating group work
- Connecting to leadership opportunities on campus
- Expand your professional development through participation in the Leadership and Diversity Conferences
Level Three: Capstone Leadership Certificate
Once you complete the Gold Leadership Certificate, you may move onto the Capstone Certificate.
During this level you will learn how to:
- Recognize and challenge your own assumptions as well as those of others
- Explore others’ impact on society
- Reflect on how you express your leadership in personal, community, and work life
Activities during this level include:
- Completing a 300-level 2-credit course to explore concepts related to leadership and society
- Expanding your professional development through participation in the Leadership and Diversity Conferences
- Taking the Clifton Strengths Assessment to focus on your natural talents and a plan for investing in them so they become a strength you can leverage
- Collaborating with other student leaders to plan and execute Capstone projects, including the opportunity to mentor a Green level leadership student
- Completing an Expression of Growth project
Additional Focus in Identity-Based Affinity Groups are aimed at supporting the development of students who are LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC. These are not separate programs, but rather, components of LDP. Students will be responsible for completing their LDP obligations as well as participating in the Additional Fous in Identity-Based Affinity Groups. Mentors will be based on participation in these two groups. Students will be paired with a mentor based on cultural competence and/or lived experiences. These programs are designated to increase the resiliency of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students and will be the focus of workshops. There are 3 workshops per level for each identity group.
Proud Eagles (LGBTQIA+)
Proud Eagles is a component of the Leadership Development Program open to all students currently enrolled in a certificate. This program is designed to provide support and education for students who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ and allied communities. At the conclusion of the academic year, successful participants will earn the Proud Eagles Designation on their Leadership Development Program Certificate.
In Living Color (BIPOC)
In Living Color is a component of the Leadership Development Program open to all students currently enrolled in the certificate. Students will learn about their place within Racial Identity Development as well as how racism, internally and externally, has affected their lived experience. At the conclusion of the academic year, successful participants will earn the In Living Color Designation on their Leadership Development Program Certificate