Presidential Leadership Fellows Program
Lead your own way.
A limited number of spots are available for an exclusive University of North Dakota program that cultivates the next generation of leaders from UND’s best and brightest new first-year students. A diverse cohort of twenty-five high school seniors will be selected for the 4-year program each year.
Why apply for the Presidential Leadership Fellows program?
Selected students receive $16,000 in scholarships ($4,000/year up to four years) if they earn a minimum of 30 credit hours per year, maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete Presidential Leadership Fellows Program expectations/requirements.
By completing the 4-year Presidential Leadership Fellows Program, students will:
- Understand the importance of integrity as the linchpin for leadership.
- Value diverse perspectives and embrace the concept of inclusion.
- Develop resiliency in pursuing and achieving their goals.
- Demonstrate the ability to achieve involvement goals.
- Demonstrate the ability to achieve shared goals via teamwork.
- Relate co-curricular experiences to academic and professional aspirations.
Become a Presidential Leadership Fellows Student
- Apply online by December 1 (selections completed by February 1).
- Application link is emailed to eligible students once they are admitted to UND.
- The committee will choose approximately 75 applicants to participate in preliminary interviews (virtual).
- The Director of Leadership Development will oversee the selection process and work with the selection committee to review applications and select each cohort.
Eligibility Requirements
- Admitted to UND as a first-time/first-year student.
- U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international students.
- Involvement in clubs/organizations, volunteer service and/or employment experiences.
- 3.0 high school GPA (official transcript).
- Completed FAFSA (encouraged).
- Maintain status as a full-time student (credit requirement).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Complete Presidential Leadership Fellows Program Opportunities & Expectations (outlined below).
Program Opportunities & Expectations
- Complete leadership skills pre-test.
- Attend monthly Presidential Leadership Fellows Program meetings.
- Complete 6-week Poolman Leadership Academy curriculum.
- Meet with an academic adviser and create a plan for academic success.
- Meet with Career Services and create a plan for career success.
- Attend various campus events (e.g. the Career Expo, Big Event, etc.)
- Complete 10 hours of community service.
- Join and participate in at least one student organization.
- Meet with your Fellows mentor monthly.
- Enroll in a leadership-related course in the Leadership Minor.
- Attend monthly Presidential Leadership Fellows Program meetings.
- Participate in the UND Student Leadership Conference.
- Meet with an academic advisor and review and update the pan for academic success.
- Meet with Career Services and develop a resume.
- Attend various campus events (e.g. the Career Expo, Big Event, etc.)
- Interview a UND or community leader about their leadership journey.
- Complete 10 hours of community service.
- Join and participate in at least one student organization.
- Meet with your Fellows mentee monthly.
- Coordinate and execute a Spring Break Week of Service.
- Enroll in a leadership-related course.
- Attend monthly Presidential Leadership Fellows Program meetings.
- Assist in planning the UND Student Leadership Conference.
- Meet with an academic advisor and review and update the plan for academic success.
- Meet with Career Services to review and update a resume.
- Attend various campus events.
- Connect with an alumni mentor and meet monthly.
- Complete 10 hours of community service.
- Join and participate in at least one student organization.
- Enroll in a leadership-related course.
- Attend monthly Presidential Leadership Fellows Program meetings.
- Assist in leading the Year 1 Presidential Leadership Fellows cohort.
- Plan and execute a capstone leadership project to present at the UND Student Leadership Conference.
- Meet with an academic advisor and review and update the pan for academic success.
- Meet with Career Services to review and update a resume.
- Assist in selecting the first year cohort of Presidential Leadership Fellows
- Meet monthly with an alumni mentor.
- Complete 5 hours of community service.
- Attend UND Student Leadership Awards Ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
After you have been admitted to UND, as long as you have a 3.0 GPA, you will receive an email from Admissions with the information you need. Can’t find the email with your invitation to apply? Contact Admissions to resend it at admissions@und.edu.
This scholarship will cover Undergraduate students only. This will not transfer to graduate programs.
Full time student status must be maintained at all times.
If your institution requires that recommendation letters are sent directly to UND, your letter writer can email their recommendation letters to leadershipdevelopment@und.edu. Attach a Word document with your reference’s contact information to your application as a placeholder. Your application will not be completed until we receive both your application and recommendation letter, and they are both due by the December 1st deadline.
The Presidential Leadership Fellows scholarship cannot be layered with the Incoming Freshman GPA Automatic Scholarship. However, many other scholarships may be able to stack. If you have questions about specific scholarships, please contact the scholarship office at scholarships@und.edu.
All of the courses listed as prerequisites for the Leadership Minor qualify as a leadership course for the purposes of this scholarship. However, if your program does not include any of these courses, please let us know and we can work to find a solution.
No, there is no additional charge for the Poolman Leadership Academy. We do our best to avoid required tasks that would incur an out-of-pocket charge from the students.
No, you can maintain the scholarship if you study abroad. However, we will need to meet with you to develop a plan to continue the curriculum remotely.