SALP Level Up: Leadership Training and Certification Program

The Level Up program will be unavailable beginning April 1st through summer 2025. We will be working on creating much needed updates to the curriculum and flow as well as addressing outdated links and accessibility issues. If you are interested in the program and haven't started yet, we encourage you to come back next Fall.

Welcome to Level Up, the Leadership Training and Certification Program, supported by Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP). We are excited to offer this cost-free program as a way for all PSU students to explore leadership opportunities at PSU and gain foundational skills/knowledge in specific areas. Additionally, upon completion of the program, students will be provided a certification of completion, invited to special campus leadership programming, and offered additional options for recognition and engagement.

Below you will find more information on program purposes, why we see student leadership as a critical part of your PSU experience, values and beliefs about student leadership at PSU, program incentives, and a short step-by-step guide to program completion.

Program Purposes

Provide Leadership Training in the Following Areas:

Cultural Humility
Public Speaking and Presentation Strategies
Controversy/Conflict and Communication Styles
Teamwork Strategies
Leading Meetings and Team Decision Making
How to Engage a Group Online
Event Planning

The program areas above were highlighted by PSU campus partners as important foundation areas for student leadership/employment and they directly connect with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies.

Introduce Students to Leadership and Engagement Opportunities at PSU:

Student Organizations
On-campus Employment Opportunities
Contributing to Student Media
Service Opportunities
Student Government

Module Learning Outcomes

Cultural Humility Module Learning Outcomes:
- Define and understand concepts of culture, cultural awareness, cultural humility, and cultural competence
- Identify and understand principles of cultural humility
- Identify skills and practices to create a more culturally humble environment
- Locate resources that support and promote culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion
Public Speaking and Presentation Strategies Module Learning Outcomes:
- Identify strategies, best practices, and gain confidence for public speaking.
- Understand the basic elements of the communication process.
- Identify skills to prepare and present a clear and fluent demonstrative, informative, and persuasive PowerPoint presentation.
Controversy/Conflict and Communication Styles Module Learning Outcomes:
- Name types of communication and conflict / controversy management styles
- Identify one’s preferred communication and conflict / controversy styles
- List techniques for communication and conflict / controversy management
Teamwork Strategies Module Learning Outcomes:
- Understand personal work style and how you can use it to lead and participate in group settings
- Increase knowledge on how to build common goals and support a team with multiple work styles
- Learn techniques for how to build team trust and connection.
Leading Meetings and Team Decision Making Module Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the four areas of the decision making continuum.
- Name the parts of an agenda.
- Identify successful facilitation tips.
- Understand the role of decision making and facilitation in determining how power functions in their group.
Online Engagement Module Learning Outcomes:
- Utilize disability resources in various media platforms to engage a group online in an inclusive manner.
- Understand different online marketing and online management best practices on different media platforms.
- Comprehend Zoom event planning practices and meeting control basics.
Event Planning Module Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how to plan an event by using a backwards timeline, which will help you meet deadlines and have a successful event.
- Understand the importance of and apply event planning best practices, such as accessibility and inclusion, sustainability, and marketing and advertising.
- Gain a better understanding of collaborating with others, including stakeholders, partners, and vendors.

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Connections

The Level Up program learning outcomes were intentionally designed to connect with specific competency themes from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Click on the document below to explore these connections.

Mapping Document: Level Up Learning Outcomes and NACE Connections

Why Student Leadership Matters

Your voices and experiences will not only influence the PSU campus, they will shape the future of our society. During your time at PSU we hope you will have the opportunity to explore who you are as a person and leader and how you can make a difference in the world. Whether it is as an individual or part of a group, you have the opportunity to serve PSU and larger community, fight for justice and equity, inspire others, and help create a university environment and society that promotes collaboration and togetherness.

These may be lofty aspirations, but we here at PSU believe in you and look forward to partnering as you work your way along the leadership journey.

Student Leadership at PSU

At PSU, we have certain values and beliefs surrounding student leadership. As your begin and work your way through your leadership journey, we hope you will keep the following beliefs in mind:

Leadership is not always positional. Leadership is about the process of leading and does not need to be hierarchical.
Leadership is about being inclusive. Leadership enhances the capacity in all participants: those who hold formal leadership positions and those who do not.
The values of equity, social justice, self-knowledge, collaboration, citizenship, and service are all essential components of leadership.
The best way to develop leadership capacity is through experience and service.
Making meaning of experiences, or learning, happens through reflection and relationships.

Program Incentives

Students who complete all 7 leadership training modules will be eligible for the following:
- Certification of Completion and information that can be added to your resume/online profiles.
- Endorsement of specific skills on your LinkedIn profile.
- Recommendation from the program on your LinkedIn profile.
- Invitations for specific PSU Leadership Programming (e.g., Leadership Conference, Leadership Lunches, etc).
- If you are interested, we will share your contact information with PSU departments who are hiring or offering leadership/service opportunities.

Step-by-Step Guide to Program Completion

Begin by completing each of the Leadership Training Modules.
- Each Leadership Training Module should take between 10-15 minutes to complete.
- At the end of each module you will be emailed a notification of completion and additional resources for that topic.
- Once you have completed all 7 Leadership Training Modules you should submit Module 8-Application for Certification.
- Once you have submitted your Module 8-Application for Certification our team will verify that you have completed all modules.
- Once verification is complete, you will be notified of your program completion and we will send you a Certificate of Completion along with other information on leadership/employment opportunities at PSU.