Presidential Emerging Leaders Program

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 Tuesdays from 6:30-8pm.

Applications into the program for the 2024-2025 academic year will open December 18, 2023 until all spots are filled. Members of the incoming Class of 2028 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 actually 6 dimensions of wellness: Mental, Financial, Spiritual, Social, Physical, and Occupational. Emphasizing 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

Students in PELP are expected to attend biweekly meetings throughout the academic year.
Students are expected to attend at least 4 out of 6 PELP Expeditions throughout the academic year.
Students are expected to attend 1 on 1 meetings with PELP Committee Staff members once a semester.
Students are expected to attend office hours with a professor at least twice a semester.
Students are expected to attend social events planned by our PELP Student Leaders.

Leadership in PELP

These leadership positions are opportunities for students who want to continue being involved in the Presidential Emerging Leaders Program after their first year at the University of Mary Washington.

PELP Student Coordinator

The PELP Student Coordinator will assist the Student Leadership Program Assistant in planning and coordinating the Presidential Emerging Leaders Program. This will include working 5-10 hours per week, including time spent in the office, and at PELP-related meetings and gatherings. The PELP Student Coordinator will be asked to provide guidance to the PELP Leaders, plan supplemental experiences and opportunities for the participants, and maintain open lines of communication between the students and the SLPA.

PELP Leaders

Our PELP Leaders serve as mentors for our first year students in PELP. They are engaged in our biweekly meetings, PELP Expeditions, and social events throughout the academic year to interact with PELP students. Listed below are the four occupational roles and responsibilities that a PELP Leader can choose to take on. Some of the roles directly communicate with each other; however, communication with the Student Leadership Program Assistant and Student Coordinator are expected for all. The goal of these roles is to give PELP Leaders more of an opportunity to actively participate in leadership, while also being creative, to further enhance their experience in PELP.