Purpose

The purpose of PLP is to give our students exposure to leadership skills needed to be a servant leader in any of their future endeavors. This is accomplished through providing students with the opportunity to network with the corporate community, attend weekly employability development programs, and be engaged in a year-long mentor relationship with seasoned professionals from for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Vision

To continually be recognized in the education and business sectors as an exceptional leadership development and mentoring program and to serve as a model for partnerships between the university, students, community, and businesses.

Student Benefits

PLP will exposure students to the leadership skills they will need for the complex world of employment. They will receive an education beyond the classroom expanding their experiences through networking opportunities, gaining professional leadership resources, developing as a servant leader, and improving their employability skills- all of which give them the added market value upon their graduation to seek positions in any industry.

Learning Outcomes for Students

PLP hopes all students will have exposure to and experience with our 7 core competencies throughout their time in the program. Those competencies and their definitions are:

• Stewardship- being disciplined with the resources allocated to you, always asking “how do my actions drive personal and program performance?”
• Servant Leadership- leading by example with the ability to exude empathy to others, always asking “what more can I do?”
• Communication- to have exposure and experience of all mediums being utilized for written and oral professional messaging
• Teamwork- being able to participate effectively in a group setting through trust and accountability
• Diversity & Inclusion- to be understanding of different values and perspectives
• Problem Solving- able to face any issue with a systematic approach at finding a solution
• Ethical Practices- having integrity at all times and in all circumstances

Student Expectations

The program is open to all majors at the university and is specific to junior, senior, and graduate students. Members are selected from an application and interview process each year. They are self-starters and self-motivators who are looking for something that sets them apart from other job-seeking graduates. Program meetings for the 2017-2018 academic year will be every Wednesdays from 4-6 pm or 5-7 pm. Program attendance is mandatory for weekly events. If your schedule for the academic year does not allow you to meet on Wednesdays from 4-6 pm or 5-7 pm on a consistent basis, participation in PLP is not possible. Students are also required to complete volunteer hours, participate in a case study experience, and attend program networking events. Dress code for the Wednesday night meetings is business casual or professional dress, no jeans allowed.