Leadership Education and Development

The Leaders of Social Change (LOSC) Institute is a social justice leadership experience designed to give students an opportunity to examine the concept of leadership at the intersection of power, oppression, justice, and social change. During this eight-week leadership experience, participants can expect to:

• discover  their top leadership talents as it relates to their leadership identity
• analyze  how their leadership identity can motivate their advocacy, activism, and allyship for social justice
• identify  at least three action steps toward their personal social justice learning goals. 

Time Commitment: The LOSC Institute is an eight-week leadership experience and will require a time commitment of approximately 2 - 3 hours per week.

Program Dates:  LOSC is offered in the fall semester.  

Program Delivery: Participants can choose to attend weekly sessions in-person or online.

Program Cost: There is no cost to students for participating in LOSC Institute.

Participant Qualifications: The LOSC Institute is open to any Illinois State University student. Participants must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.

Each year, the Dean of Students office recognizes Illinois State students for excellence in student leadership and involvement. Award nominees must be currently enrolled undergraduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing. The Student Leadership Awards and Scholarship form is now open. The nomination deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year has been extended until Friday, February 7, 2025.  

Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award

This award recognizes a student (freshman or transfer) who, in their first year at Illinois State University, has become an active member of the campus community while maintaining good academic standing. The recipient of this endowed award receives a recognition plaque and a monetary award.

Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award

This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Illinois State University community. This student exemplifies leadership and excellence through their service and dedication to the student body, demonstrated through a willingness and ability to work with others in an effort to better the quality of student life for all. The individual shows the ability to achieve and excel and seeks to improve and make changes not only for oneself but for the benefit of peers. The student accepts challenges and, in turn, challenges others. This individual's achievements are not measured solely by successes but also through failures where the student has shown growth. This outstanding student leader is an asset not only to organizations or departments but to the University as a whole. The recipient of this endowed award receives a recognition plaque and a monetary award.

Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award

William “Billy” Quigley Jr. was a dedicated student leader at Illinois State University at the time of his death on November 26, 2008, as a result of an automobile accident. This award honors student leaders at Illinois State in honor of Billy’s enthusiasm, dedication, and pride. The student should demonstrate the ability to support and motivate fellow students to take specific actions causing personal and/or group growth and development. This student should have a history of guiding fellow students through individual mentoring and supportive behavior and should demonstrate a passion for creating targeted social change at Illinois State University. The recipient of this endowed award receives a recognition plaque and a monetary award.

ELEVATE Leadership Week   is a collaborative initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the community of student leadership at Illinois State University. This transformative week will feature a lineup of dynamic guest speakers, each representing the rich mosaic that makes up our vibrant campus community. 

The EMERGE at Illinois State program is a strengths-based leadership experience designed to give transfer and non students an opportunity to launch their journey at Illinois State in an innovative and exciting way. 

During this six-week leadership development experience, participants can expect to 

• discover their top leadership strengths and productivity styles
• engage in Illinois State campus and Town of Normal community traditions and experiences
• build lasting relationships with fellow student Redbirds

Program Cost: There is no cost to students for participating in the EMERGE at Illinois State program.

Program Dates:  EMERGE at Illinois State is offered in the spring and summer semesters. The Summer 2025 program will begin on May 27 and end on July 1, 2025.

Weekly Required Sessions are designed to give participants an overview of relevant leadership models and theories that will support their success as college students.

Time Commitment: EMERGE at Illinois State is a six-week leadership experience. Weekly sessions will require a time commitment of approximately 75-90 minutes per week. 

Program Delivery: The Summer EMERGE at Illinois State is offered online via Zoom.

Weekly Required Sessions are designed to give participants an overview of relevant leadership models and theories that will support their success as college students. 

Online Sessions:

• Tuesdays (10-11:15 a.m., Zoom)
• Tuesdays (5 - 6:15 p.m., Zoom)

Participant Qualifications: EMERGE at Illinois State is open to any Illinois State University transfer student. Participants must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.

Program Registration:  The deadline to register for the Summer 2025 semester is Monday, May 19, 2025. 

Registration Link: https://forms.illinoisstate.edu/forms/emerge

The Leadership & Success Seminar is a course-based module designed to give first- and second-year students an opportunity to launch their leadership journey at Illinois State in an innovative and exciting way. During this experience, participants can expect to discover their top-five leadership strengths, learn about campus leadership engagement opportunities, and build relationships with fellow Redbirds and peer leaders.