Leadership Development

Student leaders are an essential part of Portland State University. They run student organizations; manage services, publications, and even a radio station; sit on important University committees; allocate Student Fee money; and run Student Government.

Portland State honors the work of student leaders and works to develop their capacity as leaders on campus and in the larger society. This is done in a number of ways:

• Leadership Credit

Student leaders are offered up to 3 credits of independent study per term for their work as student leaders. Students interested in the credit should speak to their advisor or supervisor to make sure that person is an authorized instructor. Students can sign up for the credits up until the second week of classes and will need to get the CRN and syllabus from their instructor.

• Leader Connect Lunch

Portland State celebrates and welcomes student leaders at the beginning of each Fall by hosting Leader Connect Lunch. It is a chance for student leaders and staff from departments across campus to network and celebrate.

• Student Leadership Conference

The Student Leadership Conference is an all-day conference held each Winter. Presentations and workshops are given by qualified professionals and student leaders on relevant topics for today's student leaders.

• New Leader Lunch

At the end of each Spring term, new student leaders who have been hired or elected for the next year are welcomed. Presentations are given by staff and current student leaders to share wisdom and advise in order to pass on the responsibility to a new group of leaders.

• Leadership Steering Committee

The Leadership Steering Committee is a group of staff and student leaders dedicated to furthering the quality of opportunities, scholarship, and assessment of student leadership at Portland State University. Representatives are from departments at Portland State that work directly and intimately with student leaders. The committee meets monthly to discuss current issues, set the agenda for student leadership projects and events, and to gain training and support for their work.