Leadership Certificates
Why do a leadership certificate program?
A leadership certificate serves as an additional co-curricular, outside the classroom, learning experience on your journey as a CU Denver student. These programs include a set of focused experiences including workshops, service, and reflection that enhance your knowledge about a topic and yourself.
Once completed, you can add your certificate to your resume. Then, when you're speaking to potential employers you will be able to discuss what you learned in the area of your certificate in addition to what you learned in the classroom. You have your entire college career to work on the requirements and complete your certificate.
When and where are leadership certificates awarded?
- Fall semester completion: Students can pick up their certificate In the Office of Student Life, Tivoli #303, or at the last Student Government Association (SGA) Senate meeting of the fall semester
- Spring semester completion: Students will receive their certificate at the Milo Awards, typically hosted in late April
Emerging Leader Certificate:
Emerging Leaders Certificate-Student Instructions 2025
This leadership certificate is for students interested in 1) exploring and expanding their understanding of leadership and 2) practicing their leadership skills through community service. Students will gain an understanding of "socially responsible leadership" and the Social Change Model of Leadership through the program.
- LEADERSHIP LEARNING: You can complete the learning components by either 1) completing the ACE Program OR 2) completing 10 Online Leadership Workshops through out CU Denver Student Life YouTube Channel
- Students who complete an on demand workshop for any elective workshop credit need to fill out the verification form(s) in the description of the video.
- All forms can be found in MyLynx in the Leadership & Community Engagement Program page.
- Students who complete an on demand workshop for any elective workshop credit need to fill out the verification form(s) in the description of the video.
- EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service at a non-profit agency of your choice. Students are expected to do all hours at one agency. Our hope is that you learn about the agency's mission, the clients they serve, the challenges they face carrying out their mission, and how they make a difference.
- Community Service hours must be recorded in in MyLynx using the Profile Tab.
- MEANING MAKING: Write a 1-2 page reflection paper or make a 3 minute presentation video connecting everything you've learned and complete a leadership coaching.
Leadership Certificate in Sustainability:
Please Note: This Certificate program is going through a reimagining process, will be updated as soon as possible!
The Leadership Certificate (LC) in Sustainability focuses on leadership skills and knowledge about the primary areas of sustainability as addressed at the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC). This is a partnership program with the Auraria Sustainable Campus Project (ASCP).
- LEADERSHIP LEARNING: Complete the 6 Sustainability workshops and 4 specifically identified LEAD workshops.
- Sustainability 101 Workshop Credit Form if watched on YouTube (@CUDenverStudentLife)
- EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service with sustainability-oriented non-profits or sustainability-oriented projects hosted by the ASCP. Students can also do their volunteering with the ASCP Eco-Rep Program.
Community Service Verification Form - MEANING MAKING: Write a reflection paper connecting everything you've learned and complete a leadership coaching/exit interview where we will practice how to share what you've learned in job interviews.
CARE Ambassador Certificate
This certificate program is for students who seek to promote campus wellness and safety through a public health approach to preventing violence. This series of trainings teaches students how to recognize, respond to, communicate with others about the warning signs of violence, how to act as an ethical bystander, how to support fellow students experiencing crises, and how to stay safe during emergency situations. Learn more and sign up down below!
LEADERSHIP LEARNING: Complete 4 trainings from the program curriculum outlined in the instructions.
Note: All training should ideally be completed within 2 semesters, excluding summer. Completion over a longer period does not prevent a student from receiving the certificate.
All trainings can be found at https://calendar.ucdenver.edu/unless otherwise specified.
- REQUIRED: Preventing Targeted Violence Training
- REQUIRED: 90-minute Phoenix Center Bystander Intervention Training
Choose 1: Prevention
- Mental Health First Aid
- Supporting Survivors
- Enhancing School Safety using Behavioral Threat Assessment
Choose 1: Keeping Campus Safe
- Run, Hide, Fight / Active Harmer Preparedness Training
- CARE Ambassador Narcan Training
- American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED Training
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: CARE Ambassadors and those in the process of completing the program will have an opportunity to attend quarterly program meetings, where they will hear from campus partners, learn more about the field of violence prevention, and network with other Ambassadors.
- As students complete trainings, they are required to log their hours on the Service Learning tab of the Office of Case Management’s MyLynx page.
MEANING MAKING: Complete the CARE Ambassador survey
- Once all trainings have been completed, students will complete the CARE Ambassador Survey (https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0J0rZJkLTYDy498) certifying that they have completed the coursework and providing feedback. Feedback questions do NOT impact certification, as they are used for data analysis only. To preserve anonymity, please take a screenshot of the confirmation page at the end of your Qualtrics survey and send the image to Grey Peckham (grey.peckham@ucdenver.edu) to confirm you have completed the survey. If you accidentally do not capture this image, please email with the date and time you completed the survey.