Building on a proud legacy while creating new pathways for students to lead in the classroom, on campus, and beyond.
For more than 30 years, the LEAD Scholars Academy has helped shape student leaders at UCF through academics, service, and community engagement. This legacy matters and sets the stage for what comes next.
As expectations for leadership continue to evolve, UCF is reshaping how we prepare students to lead. We are moving the LEAD Scholars Academy toward a new model that more directly connects leadership development to academic study, career readiness, and real-world experience.
A key part of this shift is our Bachelor of Science in Leadership, launched in 2024 through the School of Interdisciplinary Studies in the College of Community Innovation and Education, in addition to their previously offered minor and certificate programs in this space. This program will be the avenue for students to earn academic credit through leadership-focused coursework, integrating leadership development directly into their academic experience. With nine tracks, from Technology and Healthcare to Arts & Entertainment and Public Service, the program allows students to build leadership skills grounded in their chosen field of study.
Looking ahead, we are expanding how students engage in leadership development across the university.
This fall, the Office of Student Involvement will launch LEAD2. Designed to reach even more students, LEAD2 will offer workshops led by Student Leadership Consultants, signature experiences like Leadership UCF and Leadership Week, and new tools such as a Leadership Credentialing Program and Leadership Transcript. Details will be shared this fall.
