Leadership Certificate
What is the Leadership Certificate?
The Leadership Certificate is a structured program designed to provide students with experience and growth in leadership. The program is grounded in the Illinois Philosophy of Leadership which states that "all students can exercise leadership." As a university student, you have the potential to become an excellent leader by developing skills through education, experience, and reflection.
Why should you get a Leadership Certificate?
Completing the Certificate will increase your leadership skills by setting personal leadership goals, collaborating with a Leadership Coach, and participating in various leadership experiences. The Certificate P rogram builds broad leadership skills for life in just 3-4 semesters or more!
What Leadership Skills?
The Illinois Philosophy of Leadership is supported by eleven leadership skills and attributes in four different areas: Self development, inter-personal development, organizations/group development, and transitional development. Developing t hese skills will help support your professional and personal success.
Why get a Certificate when there are so many other leadership opportunities on campus?
- Structure - This P rogram gives you specific requirements to meet that guarantee growth in a structured, yet personal process of development.
- Flexibility & Freedom - Go at your own pace and choose activities, classes, groups, conferences, and other leadership opportunities that interest you to meet the Program requirements
- Assistance - – Work one-on-one with a Leadership Coach and other professional staff and students to help support you in the Program
Will I have help along the way?
Yes. You will work with a qualified Leadership Coach who will be assigned to help you successfully complete the P rogram and learn the types of leadership skills necessary for your success.
How Can I Start?
Begin your Leadership Certificate today! The following five steps will help you get started in the Program:
1) Register online and attend a Leadership Certificate Orientation Workshop during the Fall or Spring enrollment period (weeks 1 – 12 each semester).- For a list of Orientation Workshops and to register, click here.
- If you are joining the Program in the Fall Semester, you must have your Statement of Intent submitted by November 10.
- For students joining in the Spring Semester, you must have your Statement of Intent submitted by April 10.
- It is highly recommended you have 3-4 semesters left in your degree program in order to complete the Certificate.
- You will have the opportunity to recruit your own Leadership Coach, or you can choose to be assigned a Coach. The official pairing will take place after you have submitted your Statement of Intent.
- For more information about working with a Leadership Coach, click here.
- By December 1 if you enrolled during the Fall semester and May 1 if you enrolled during the Spring semester.
- For more information about the initial coach meeting, refer to page 8 in your Participant Manual.
- By December 1 if you enrolled during the Fall semester and May 1 if you enrolled during the Spring semester.
- If you enrolled in the Certificate Program in the Fall semester, your PDP will need to be completed and submitted electronically to the Leadership Center by May 1 of the next semester.
- If you enrolled in the Certificate Program in the Spring semester, your PDP will need to be completed and submitted electronically to the Leadership Center by December 1 of the next semester.
- For some examples of PDPs, click here
Upcoming Certificate Events: Save the Date!
We will be holding our annual Leadership Certificate Completion Ceremony on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Illini Union ABC Rooms. This event will honor all completing Certificate students and their coaches. We would like to also invite current and prospective students, coaches, and other volunteers and friends to this event and email Leslie Schwartz (LeslieMS@illinois.edu) to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!
Leadership Coach
Certificate participants are paired with Leadership Coaches who will provide insight and advice to students enrolled in the Leadership Certificate Program. Click here for more information on volunteering as a Leadership Coach or view the Coach Information Brochure.
Contact the Leadership Center
The Leadership Center is available to support you and your success in the Certificate Program! Please call the Leadership Center or email us if you have questions, concerns, or would like to discuss the Leadership Certificate program with staff.
