Information about the Leadership Program
- Students participate in their choice of four of seven Leadership Development Activities (LDA) each year (classes, retreats etc). These are the things that you're already going to be doing over your time at UT.
- If you are at McCombs for four years, you participate in six of eight programs (LP Events), one held each semester.
If you are at McCombs for three years, you participate in five of six programs (LP Events), one held each semester.
- These LP Events are held each semester for your cohort based on the theme of the year (Individual, Organizational, Communal, Global).
- We've created an online tracking system (the LP Tracker) to help you build your portfolio with all of the above. Everything that you enter into the Tracker to become a part of your portfolio must also include a reflection based on the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. What did you learn from that activity? How did it improve your leadership? Which one of the 7 C's does it relate to the most?
The only parts of the program we consider to be "extra" are the once-a-semester LP Events.
Leadership Development Activities (LDAs)
You must submit at least four unique LDAs per year in the LP tracker, but you may enter up to ten.
-
Classes
Courses related to leadership, ethics, personal development, conflict-management, social change and communication. Students may email leadership@mccombs.utexas.edu to verify if a course can count toward this requirement. Students can also view a list of LP suggested courses.
-
Organizations
Active membership for at least one semester in a registered UT organization.
-
Conferences/Retreats
Attendance to a full-day conference related to leadership, ethics, personal development, conflict management , social change and communication with at least 6 hours of participation.
-
Book Reviews
Approved books may be checked out from the Undergraduate Programs Office, Leadership Library (CBA 2.302). Additional books related to leadership, ethics, social change and other relevant topics may be used. Email leadership@mccombs.utexas.edu for questions.
-
Community Service
Volunteer shift must be at least four consecutive hours or be four hours over a period of time doing the same volunteer activity (e.g. tutoring at the library). Focus on meaningful service projects which avoid administrative dues, such as assisting with registration or mail-outs.
-
Lecture Series
Attend three lectures over the school year (fall and spring semesters). Lecture Series include VIP Distinguished Speakers, Leadership and Ethics Institute Certification, as well as other lectures promoted or approved by the Office of Student Life.
-
Other Activity
We recommend seeking pre-approval prior to submitting an 'Other' activity for LDA credit. Example of 'Other' activities can include participation in an internship or work-study, or a full-time job.
Activities will count toward completion of The Program once you have reflected upon them in the tracker. You should try to stretch yourself. If you have never read a book on leadership, try it. If a community service opportunity comes across your email, sign up for it. The Leadership Program is designed to be flexible and allow you to shape it to your own needs over the the three- to four-year time frame.
LP Events
You are also expected to attend six of eight special programs coordinated by the Undergraduate Programs Office within a four-year timeframe. Sophomore and transfer admits must attend five of six special programs within three years. All newly admitted students are required to attend the fall semester retreat their first year of LP participation. You will also complete the Contemporary Leadership Issues Course, the LP Capstone Course taught by a distinguished business faculty member.
Themes
Each year of the Leadership Program follows a theme so you can build your skill set.
-
Year One: Individual
During your first year in the Leadership Program, you begin to discover your strengths and define your values. Explore your leadership strengths at a retreat. Think how you can use resilience and stress to become more effective.
-
Year Two: Organizational
Your second year is spent reflecting on your roles within a group and learning how to more effectively collaborate with others in achieving common goals. Learn from our award-winning faculty through business simulations that will challenge and motivate you.
-
Year Three: Communal
Year three encourages you to demonstrate your commitment to issues relevant to the multiple communities in which you belong. Connect with the Austin community and actively participate in becoming a better citizen. Complete a community service project with your peers.
-
Year Four: Global
Building off your leadership skills and experiences, your final year challenges you to become an ethical global citizen by affecting positive change. Participate in a global trip. Learn how to become a more engaged global citizen.
The Social Change Model of Leadership Development
The Social Change Model of Leadership Development is designed to enhance the development of leadership qualities in all participants. It promotes an inclusive process that actively engages all who wish to contribute -- those who hold formal leadership positions as well as those who do not. The social change model examines leadership development from three different perspectives: the individual, the group and the community or society.
The Seven C's
The desired outcomes for individuals are based on the seven C’s from the social change model: consciousness of self, congruence, commitment, collaboration, common purpose, controversy and citizenship.
Year One of the LP
Consciousness of Self: Consciousness of self requires an awareness of personal beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions. Self-awareness, conscious, mindfulness, introspection, and continual personal reflection are foundation elements of the leadership process.
Congruence: Congruence requires that one has identified personal values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions and acts consistently with those values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions. A congruent individual is genuine and honest and “walks the talk.”
Commitment: Commitment requires an intrinsic passion, energy, and purposeful investment toward action. Follow-through and willing involvement through commitment lead to positive social change.
Year Two & Three of the LP
Common Purpose: Common purpose necessitates and contributes to a high level of group trust involving all participants in shared responsibility towards collective aims, values, and vision.
Collaboration: Collaboration multiplies a group’s effort through collective contributions, capitalizing on the diversity and strengths of the relationship and interconnections of individuals involved in the change process. Collaboration assumes that a group is working towards a Common Purpose, with mutually beneficial goals, and serves to generate creative solutions as a result of group diversity, requiring participants to engage across difference and share authority, responsibility, and accountability for its success.
Controversy with Civility: Within a diverse group, it is inevitable that differing viewpoints will exist. In order for a group to work toward positive social change, open, critical, and civil discourse can lead to new, creative solutions and is an integral component of the leadership process. Multiple perspectives need to be understood, integrated, and bring value to a group.
Year Four of the LP
Change: As the hub and ultimate goal of the Social Change Model, Change gives meaning and purpose to the other C’s. Change means improving the status quo, creating a better world, and demonstrating a comfort with transition and ambiguity in the process of change.
Citizenship: Citizenship occurs when one becomes responsibly connected to the community/society in which one resides by actively working toward change to benefit others through care, service, social responsibility, and community involvement.
Adapted from: Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
The Impact of LP-Student Testimonials
LP students give feedback about what LP has done for them and how it has helped to develop and enhance their leadership skills, world view, and community service involvement while at McCombs.
“The McCombs Leadership Program has left me a more acute, disciplined, and transformational leader. The LP is an experience that has taught me to recognize our interdependence. We are all called to work for a higher purpose, a common purpose, an individual responsibility that requires unyielding effort and humble commitment. LP has trained me to see the gaps – the spaces between eager workforces and passionate desires that need connection in order to serve the greater good of society.” – Jefferson Fisher
“The Leadership Program for me this previous year was a great experience overall. I really enjoyed the setup of the program in terms of the flexibility in meeting the requirements on one’s own time, and being able to focus on different types of LDAs that we felt strongly about or were relevant to us. I think the LP Events were well organized and efficient in their goal of making us better leaders in specific areas and enabling us to grow.” – Sam Copeland
“I have received many benefits from participating in the Leadership Program at McCombs. Not only have I met some of the most talented, intelligent and friendly people at UT, but I have learned so much about myself and my leadership style. Through the program, I have learned to understand my talents, values, and interests, allowing me to be a more effective leader. Each year of the program provided me with new insights on leadership and gave me the confidence to explore my ability to be a more productive and competent leader. The opportunities made available to me through LP were endless and were some of the most rewarding experiences of my college career.” – Chaille Muzny
“LP has shown me that a leader, above all else, is a servant – and our world is in need of great servants. A leader serves the needs, shares the struggles, and feels the pains of his or her followers. A leader knows no self interest.” – Jefferson Fisher
“LP not only gave me the opportunity to learn what leadership is, but it also helped me developed my leadership skills. For example, on the first year of the program we learned about ourselves. We took this “test” called a Strengthsquest Self-Assessment; the assessment showed me my strengths and weakness. This test was beneficial because it helped see in what areas I needed to improve to become a better leader and in what areas I was already doing good. I believe that opportunities like this are what make a leader better, because a leader is not born but made….I want to thank the LP staff and LP itself for this wonderful opportunity and support.” – Aidali Miranda
If you would like to submit a student testimonial, please email us at
leadership@mccombs.utexas.edu