Presidential Emerging Leaders Program - Office of Student Activities and Engagement (SAE)

What is PELP?

Our Mission

The Presidential Emerging Leaders Program (PELP) is a one-year leadership development program designed to help first-year students create lasting friendships, make meaningful connections across campus, and develop their leadership profiles. Selected students participate in personal leadership development, team building, skill-building sessions, and networking with campus influencers, including University President Troy Paino.

Participants spend the year immersed in various learning opportunities to explore what kind of leader they aspire to be. Participation in this program will serve as a solid springboard to future engagement opportunities on and off-campus.

This program is open to all majors and requires no prior leadership experience or knowledge. Participants will receive a $500 ($250 at the start of each semester) monetary award to their student account to assist with covering their student bill. There are no academic credits associated with the program, but we ask that students do not schedule classes on Tuesday evenings as the sessions are held Tuesday evenings.

Applications into the program for the 2026-2027 academic year open on December 1st, 2025! Members of the incoming Class of 2030 can apply here. Offers will be made on a rolling bases throughout the spring semester.

Learning Outcomes

Our 4 End Goals for our students in the Presidential Emerging Leaders Program are:

Involvement
- Any activity outside of the classroom which enhances and contributes to student learning.
Self-Actualization
- Personal growth, development, and doing all that one is capable of.
Strategic Thinking
- Understanding how to set one self up for success in the future based on choices made
Wellness
- There are 6 dimensions of wellness: Mental, Financial, Spiritual, Social, Physical, and Occupational. In PELP, we emphasize the importance of all these aspects of wellness for students.

In addition:

Participants will discover the many opportunities to get involved in and around campus
Participants will explore what kind of leader they aspire to be
Participants will be introduced to the various leadership opportunities available to them on campus.
Participants will reflect and learn more about their personal identities and their role in the community.

Requirements

PELP Students are expected to (at minimum)
- attend biweekly PELP meetings throughout the academic year
- complete 10 documented volunteer/service hours
- attend community building events with the PELP Cohort and Student Leaders
PELP Students are encouraged to
- attend PELP Off-Campus Expeditions (at no additional cost to the students)
- seek involvement in co-curricular experiences like clubs and organizations

Leadership in PELP

After students have completed one year in the PELP program, they are invited to apply for PELP Coordinator and PELP Leader positions. These mentoring positions allow students to continue their involvement with the leadership program, expand upon valuable leadership skills, and provide opportunity for additional financial support.