Presidents Leadership Class

The Presidents Leadership Class (PLC) at the University of Colorado at Boulder is one of the oldest collegiate leadership programs in the United States.^[1] A four-year academic and experiential learning program for top students at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Presidents Leadership Class was named to honor the president of the University of Colorado as well as the corporate presidents and executives involved in the program’s formation.

History

The Presidents Leadership Class was founded in 1972 by William Douglas, Dean of Admissions at the University of Colorado, and Terry Heineman, Assistant Director of Admissions. In order to attract top students to the University, PLC founders believed that a leadership program should be added to an existing merit scholarship program.

Douglas believed it important to involve a number of outstanding leaders in the state to lend additional credibility to the concept of a leadership program. He enlisted William Coors, then President of Adolph Coors Company, to help lead the effort.

The first Board of Directors included: William Coors, President of the Adolph Coors Company; Emmett Heitler, Executive Vice President of Samsonite Corporation; Theodore Brown, President of First National Bank of Denver; Frank Raggio, a Martin-Marietta executive; Al Flanagan, president of Denver’s TV Channel 9, KUSA-TV, and later president of Gannett Broadcasting; and William Douglas, Dean of Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Membership

Each year, the Presidents Leadership Class selects up to 60 of the most exemplary freshman students attending the University of Colorado at Boulder. Students wishing to become part of the Presidents Leadership Class apply to the program during their senior year of high school through the website. Applications are due on February 1. PLC receives over 500 applications each year for the 50 positions.

The application consists of a detailed history of a student’s academic record, test scores, community service, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, applicants are required to write five short essays and submit two detailed letters of recommendation.

From 500 applications, PLC selects 200 students to participate in interviews with a panel of judges composed of alumni, government and community leaders, parents, and university officials.

Scholarships

All members of the Presidents Leadership Class are given an initial scholarship award in the amount of $500 per semester. To supplement that award, all PLC students are given exclusive opportunities to compete for other scholarships—a PLC student has the potential to be awarded upwards of $12,000 throughout their college career from PLC opportunities alone.

The Program

Scholars enter the third and fourth year expected to engage in “real world” activities such as crafting policy statements, interacting with international policy leaders, and ultimately applying for grants to fund their own original leadership ideas. The program culminates in the awarding of a Leadership Certificate upon graduation from the University of Colorado at Boulder. The Leadership Certificate is considered equivalent to a minor in Leadership Studies, and is recognized by employers and graduate schools.

Results

In a recent survey, 91% of PLC alumni responded that PLC has helped them perform at a higher level in their career as compared to other college graduates.

Campus Placement & Board of Advisors

The Presidents Leadership Class is unique because it is based at the University of Colorado Boulder but is interdisciplinary and as such is not housed within any one college on campus. The program operates within the office of the Provost and under the supervision of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education. The organization has a prestigious Board of Advisors who work closely with the Director to raise awareness, support student achievement, and assist with fund raising and development for PLC . The Board is made up of business and community leaders, PLC alumni, current students and includes both the University Chancellor as well as other distinguished faculty from CU Boulder.

Alumni Network

Founded in 1972, the Presidents Leadership Class boasts an active alumni network of more than 1800. All PLC students are given access to this network to find jobs, mentors, and friends whenever desired.

Former Speakers

Past speakers at PLC events have included:

• Dr. Jim Collins – Best selling author of Good to Great and Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.
• Governor Richard Lamm – Former governor of the State of Colorado.
• Representative Cory Gardner – PLC alumnus and Colorado State Representative.
• Senator Hank Brown – Former United States Senator and President of the University of Colorado.
• Dr. Lloyd Lewan – Dean Emeritus, Semester at Sea.
• Dr. Steven Berman – Past President, American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Mr. Sam Addoms – Former CEO, Frontier Airlines.
• Ms. Barbara Grogan – Founder, Western Industrial Contractors.
• Mr. Andrew Romanoff - Former Speaker, Colorado House of Representatives.
• Mr. Neal Beidleman - PLC alumnus and featured character in Jon Krakauer's nonfiction Into Thin Air about a harrowing Mt. Everest climb.

References