Leadership Programming
Find the Central Michigan University leadership programs that match your interest and experience levels.
Leadership Safari
The Leadership Institute's flagship co-curricular program, Leadership Safari, is a three-day guided experience held annually for more than 1,000 transfer students and freshmen. Learn more about Safari.
Purpose
Purpose is a workshop designed to help students find their own authentic path. Discover your core values, and then connect them with your collegiate pursuits to find meaning and value in what you do.
Search for Purpose on Engage Central to register.
The LeaderShape Institute
The LeaderShape Institute is an intensive four-day retreat that provides participants the opportunity for self-discovery, self-reflection and feedback in a community of approximately 60 peers. Not a typical leadership retreat, the Institute is grounded in helping individuals identify the values they hold that lead to making a difference in the communities around them. Through self-assessment, intensive small group discussions, team-building challenges and more, participants will develop a vision for something they care about. By leading with passion, integrity and a healthy disregard for the impossible, participants explore who they are and the impact that they want to have on communities, working towards a more caring, just and equitable society.
The 2026 Institute will be held May 11 to 14 at an off-campus venue. Registration for LeaderShape will open in January 2026.
Leadership Institute Facilitation Series
The Leadership Institute Facilitator Course is designed for student leaders who desire deeper levels of involvement with the LI, or who would like to advance leadership in their organization. This three-part series will provide participants with a basic skillset in creating leadership learning opportunities for their peers. After completing the program, participants will be better equipped for numerous on-campus leadership roles, including joining the Leadership Safari staff.
Visit Engage Central to see program dates and register.
Connections Leadership Conference
The Central Michigan University Connections Leadership Conference is returning to the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, MI this November! The 23rd annual Connections Conference will be held November 21st and 22nd 2026.
The Connections Conference serves as a networking opportunity for campus leaders and is open to all students with varying levels of leadership experience. Through collaboration, relevant issues are discussed with the intent of making a positive impact on campus and in the community.
The registration fee for Connections is only $125.00 and includes lodging, meals, conference materials, admission to the waterpark, and transportation. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need. Campus departments and Registered Student Organizations may also sponsor students to attend.
Registration will open on October 13th and close on November 1st, or when the delegation fills.
The 2025 Connections Conference is a collaborative effort of the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, the Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and Student Activities & Involvement.