Leadership Certificate Program Overview

Since its creation in 2002, the Leadership Certificate Program has served to encourage and recognize leadership accomplishments by UW-Madison students – both undergraduates and graduate students. The Leadership Certificate is aligned with competencies, values and outcomes associated with the UW-Madison Leadership Framework, which creates shared language rooted in leadership research and supports leadership for the purpose of positive change. The Leadership Certificate is an asynchronous non-academic program.

The Leadership Certificate is based on four assumptions:

  • UW-Madison is committed to developing the leadership capabilities within its community.
  • Effective leadership skills can be taught and learned at the university and in the community.
  • Leadership recognizes that context matters and each situation requires unique engagement.
  • Leadership is understood as the phenomenon of positive change in an individual, group, or community’s beliefs, values, or behaviors.

Questions about the program can be directed to leadcertificate@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.

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History

Sepia colored photo of the Red Gym

The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus is steeped in excellence and tradition. This excellence is demonstrated through the competitive admissions process that brings exceptionally bright and talented students to the campus, as well as through the notable contributions that faculty, staff, and alumni have made through research, teaching and outreach to local, national, and international communities. The passing of the campus culture from one generation to the next – the traditions – are taught from the moment a student steps on campus and begins to absorb the rich history the campus has to offer to the first time they sing “Varsity” as a graduate.

Woven throughout the student experience and the environment are monuments to the tradition of student activism and leadership on campus. Anyone who has spent a Friday afternoon on the Memorial Union Terrace, or walked down the lakeshore path to Picnic Point has profited from the strong student leadership on the UW-Madison campus. These two campus icons represent student initiatives and action that left a permanent imprint on the campus environment.

Less obvious are the individual notations of student achievement. The Leadership Certificate was created to capture the personal commitment for leadership development demonstrated by many of the student leaders on campus.

The Leadership Certificate program is the product of the Student Leadership & Governance Work Group established by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UW-Madison during 2002-2003. The broad-based Work Group was comprised of representatives from student governance, campus student leadership, colleges, the Dean of Students Office, the Wisconsin Union, the Morgridge Center, Interfraternity Council, University Housing, and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Office.

In 2013, an on-campus working group made up of faculty, staff, and students formed in order to revise the Leadership Certificate and align it with the UW-Madison Leadership Framework. The revised Certificate was launched in the summer of 2015. The Certificate is administered through the Center for Leadership and Involvement at UW-Madison.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison recognizes the need for increasing the capacity of individuals to take leadership roles in all professions and sectors of society while on campus and beyond. It is our belief that leadership can be learned in formal classes, community-based leadership opportunities, mentoring and internship settings, as well as through a range of collaborative leadership activities.

The Leadership Certificate’s definition of leadership aligns with the UW-Madison’s Leadership Framework and the principles that:

  • Leadership is an action-oriented endeavor and not based on position or level of authority.
  • It recognizes that context matters and each situation requires unique engagement.
  • Is understood as the phenomenon of positive change in an individual, group, or community’s beliefs, values, or behaviors.

As of Spring 2023, over one thousand students have completed the UW-Madison Leadership Certificate.

Online Information Session

If you would like more information on the Leadership Certificate, please view the online information session below.

Program Timeline

Length of Program

For students wishing to pursue a Leadership Certificate, we recommend allowing four semesters to enroll in the program, complete the requirements, and participate in the review process. The certificate can be completed in less time than this, and if you are interested in pursuing the certificate but have less than four semesters left in your degree, we are happy to discuss a plan in your initial advising appointment. Our Success Plan templates also provide a good idea of the workload you can anticipate when pursuing the certificate.

Completion of Certificate

Most students elect to finish and receive the Leadership Certificate in the same semester they plan to graduate from UW-Madison. However, you may choose to finish and receive it in an earlier semester if you wish.

Submission Deadlines

Depending on the semester you are planning on finishing the certificate in, you will have a deadline of November 1st (fall semesters) or April 1st (spring semesters) to complete and submit all of the program requirements through the Canvas course page. These are hard deadlines that we cannot make exceptions to.

Once all of your materials are in, a three-week review process begins. Students should plan to set aside time throughout the three weeks to work on revisions as necessary.

Near the end of November or April, there will be a final date on which all final revisions are due. After this, students receive final notice of if they have been approved to receive the certificate.

Leadership Certificate Ceremony

At the beginning of December or May, our program holds the Leadership Certificate Ceremony to recognize students receiving the certificate and celebrate their accomplishments.

Steps to Completion

  1. By your deadline date, you will submit the necessary assignments and supplemental records in Canvas.
  2. Leadership Certificate materials are reviewed by the Leadership Certificate Review Committee consisting of faculty and staff from UW-Madison.
    1. If you wish to present your Leadership for Change Capstone, you will schedule a time with the Leadership Certificate staff. Presentations typically occur the week following the completion deadline.
  3. After the due date, there will be a three-week period in which you will receive feedback from the Review Committee and have time to make the suggested revisions via Canvas.
  4. You will be notified by the Leadership Certificate staff if you have met all requirements towards the end of the three-week period.

Review Process

After submitting all materials for the Leadership Certificate, you will participate in a three-week-long review process.

Materials to be reviewed are the following: Online Modules, the Competencies Reflection Essay, and the Leadership for Change Capstone.

Leadership Certificate Review Committee

The Leadership Certificate Review Committee consists of staff and faculty from across UW-Madison who are passionate about student leadership development and volunteer their time to review certificate requirements. Once your materials are submitted, you will be assigned reviewers who you will collaborate with during the three-week review process to make revisions to your materials as necessary. You should expect to set aside time during these three weeks so that you may respond to questions or resubmission requests as needed. You can expect 1-2 rounds of revisions for your materials.

The review process serves a few purposes:

  1. To engage in reflection with others, which creates an opportunity to learn different perspectives, strategies and new ways to interpret your experiences.
  2. To further reflect on your leadership experience and skills, gaining more self-awareness and perspectives.
  3. The review process is a unique opportunity where you will be connected with UW-Madison professionals who are interested in getting to know your work and helping you reflect upon your leadership skills and experiences.

What to expect each week

  • Week 1
    • Reviewers receive your materials and begin their first round of review.
  • Week 2
    • You should receive feedback on your online modules, competency reflection essay, and Leadership for Change capstone essay. If you elect to do a presentation instead of an essay for your Leadership for Change capstone, presentations will begin this week. Reviewers will provide you with a deadline to resubmit any revisions to them for further review.
  • Week 3
    • Reviewers will look over your resubmissions and let you know if there are any further revisions necessary to your materials. There will be a final deadline for any final resubmissions.
  • Week 4 
    • After the review process concludes, you will receive an email with final confirmation of approval or denial for the Leadership Certificate.