University of Wisconsin–Madison

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@union.wisc.edu.

Leadership Certificate diploma covers on dark table cloth
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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 Office for Student Organizations, Leadership & 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.

Come back later to see our revamped Online Information Session on the Leadership Certificate! Updates in progress!