1. Welcome to Cougars LEAD
Your legacy is calling…

2. What is leadership?
Genuine leaders bring the best of who they are to their work and then intentionally work to improve their skills and approaches to become closer to what they are capable of – all in the service of leading others towards a desirable destination. – Kevin Eikenberry
Everyone is capable of leadership; thus, leaders are made, not born. There are opportunities to learn and practice leadership in all parts of life. College is a place to exert real leadership with real, tangible impact. College is your invitation to participate. – Duke University Student Affairs

3. Leadership certificate program
Encourages on-campus involvement
Develop skills and competencies that will help you prepare for post graduation success
Sell your experiences to future employers
Connect leadership experiences with academic work and career goals.
Freedom to structure leadership experience around personal interests and career ambitions.

4. Certificate levels Progressive levels:
Bronze (20 involvement credit hours)
Completion of at least four hours in each foundational competency
Completion interview* and reflection
Silver (40 involvement credit hours)
Completion of Bronze level
Additional 15 hours in any of the foundational competencies
Applied leadership experience – worth 5 hours
Gold (60 involvement credit hours)
Completion of Silver level
Additional 10 hours in any of the foundational competencies
Leadership practicum and project summary/reflection – worth 10 hours
Completion interview*
Talk about completion interview – once you believe you have enough to complete a level, schedule a meeting with staff to review your unique experiences to determine if you have reached that level.

5. Foundational competencies
Opportunities for earning involvement credit hours will satisfy at least one of the program’s foundational competencies.
Leadership Theory
Communication and Collaboration
Diversity and Multicultural Awareness
Service and Volunteerism
Personal and Professional Development
Applied leadership experience is also an important part of this program and is required for both Silver and Gold levels.
Basically, these are the areas that every person enrolled in the program will have some exposure to or experience with – all of the workshops, activities, qualifiying experiences, etc, will support your knowledge and experience in all of these areas.

6. Special badges
Badges can be earned for completing at least 10 involvement credit hours in any one foundational competency.
Consult with Cougars LEAD staff when you think you have completed enough to earn a badge in an area.
Badges appear in your portfolio in Canvas
More details available in the Cougars LEAD brochure and online at

7. Involvement credit hours
Earn “involvement credit hours” for leadership, professional, and personal development activities
Activities such as leadership workshops, SYNERGY Leadership Conference, career development events, RSO CLIMB meetings for Registered Student Organization leaders, working on campus, leadership courses, projects, academic committees.
Membership and Leadership Positions: Registered Student Organization memberships and positions, leadership positions such as Resident Assistant, Peer Minister, or other applied leadership opportunities.
Note: The number of involvement credit hours awarded for a particular activity does not always match the actual time spent on the activity.
Mention that they learned or will learn about how to log into their DEN accounts in the Check Your Tech session. This is where they’ll find out about everything happening on campus and how to get involved, join RSOs and track their Cougars LEAD involvement credit hours.

8. Tracking hours
Students are responsible for making sure that their activities and credit hours are tracked in the “Experiences” tab in the Den.
Involvement credit hours can also be recorded through checking in at events and programs throughout campus – swipe, sign in, or QR code scan.
Cougars LEAD staff will evaluate and approve experiences and hours entered.
All experiences will appear on your co-curricular transcript in the Den.

9. Reaching levels
When you think you have enough Involvement Credit Hours to earn a level, contact Cougars LEAD Staff:
Meet with staff to have your co-curricular transcript evaluated.
Certificate and badges in will be awarded – along with other perks!
T-shirt
Bragging rights
Ability to include it on your resume in order to increase your marketability for internships, full time employment, and graduate school admission
Special recognition at campus ceremony and graduation

10. What counts?? Ways to Earn Involvement Credit Hours
Each activity, workshop, seminar, position, or event will fulfill at least one of the foundational competencies. Students can choose to divide activities with multiple hours among several competencies.
Leadership Seminars and Workshops
Leadership Skills Seminars and Workshops on Theory and Practice of Leadership
RSO CLIMB Leadership Meetings
SYNERGY Conference

11. What counts? Campus Wide Events and Programs
Career Services Workshops, Events, and Panels
Heritage Month and Cultural Activities (Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, etc.)
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Awareness Activities
Mental Health Awareness Activities

12. What counts?? Campus Involvement and Applied Leadership Experiences
Join, start, or serve on the board of a Registered Student Organization
X-Factor Leadership Positions such as a Resident Assistant, Cougar Peer Educator, Peer Minister, or in the Resident Housing Association
Intramurals and Shannon Center Programs
Campus Employment
Campus Ministry retreats, service opportunities, spring break programs, or other events
Internships
Participation in the Bonner Service Scholars or Schmitt Scholars Program
SXU Committee or Board as a student member
Student Ambassador/Admissions activities
Volunteer on campus or in the community

13. What counts? Leadership Courses or Academic Department Offerings
“Major Pursuits” courses in Leadership and Career Development
Leadership courses offered within specific majors
Academic Lectures and Panels
Research with Faculty

14. What counts? Leadership Practicum
*** Required to reach the GOLD level designation
Advanced level applied leadership experience
Design a service or leadership project on campus and create a report/video/reflection summary of the project

15. What doesn’t count?
Social activities (unless you were on the planning committee)
Attending sports events
Collegiate athletics
Things you did in high school
Experiences without reflection
If the experience is not on the list, and you are not sure, please ask Cougars LEAD staff for clarification.

16. Sample bronze level - co-curricular transcript
Leadership Theory: 4 ICR
Introduction to Leadership – 1 ICR
Conflict Resolution Workshop – 1 ICR
SYNERGY Workshop – 2 sessions on leadership – 2 ICR
Communication and Collaboration: 4 ICR
Planned Hispanic Heritage Month event - 1 ICR
Communication and Leadership Styles Workshop – 1 ICR
Joined SXC as a volunteer – 1 ICR
Worked on campus at the Shannon Center Information Desk – 1 ICR
Diversity and Multicultural Awareness: 4 ICR
Attended Asian Summer Fest – 1 ICR
Attended Hispanic Heritage Month event – 1 ICR
Attended BSU lecture - ICR
Attended Women’s History Month panel – 1 ICR
Service and Volunteerism: 4 ICR
Helped plan and attended QUEST retreat – 3 ICR
Visited Broadview Detention Center with MSPJ – 1ICR
Personal and Professional Development: 4 ICR
Attended Cougars Connect networking night – I ICR
Attended SXU Internship and Job Fair – 1 ICR
Attended the Mental Health Awareness Day
Participated in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – 1 ICR