Leadership Signature Program
Program Description
The Leadership Signature Program (LSP) at Clemson University offers an undergraduate Leadership Certificate for business students aiming to enhance their leadership skills. Approved by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in November 2021, the credentialed certificate appears on academic transcripts. The 11-credit program includes 3 credits selected from a list of traditional leadership courses and 8 credits of hands-on leadership development through five progressive practicum courses. The practicums span five flexible semesters, with one-credit courses in the first two semesters and two credits in later semesters as students take on increased leadership roles. Early pre-registration is highly encouraged.
Pre-register here!Read student testimonials to see what our students say about the Leadership Signature Program, and be sure to watch our informational video!
If you want to know more about our Leadership Signature Program, please contact Col Keith Balts. Also, look for LSP Info Nights in weekly Business email newsletters and other venues in late October and early mid-March.
-
Who are we?
- Organized as a student-led company to gain progressive leadership experience and help shape your professional identity.
- Integrated horizontally (by major) and vertically (by academic year).
- Mission: Cultivate mission-driven leaders charged with making a positive impact on the world.
- The company meets on Tuesday afternoons in two split sections. To ensure company-wide communications and leadership, both sections overlap for a 30-minute Staff Alignment Meeting each week.
The leadership organizational chart represents a student-led company to gain progressive leadership experience and help shape your professional identity.
-
Leadership Values and Skills
Value - inspires desired behavior if instilled in a leader:
- Core Values: Trustworthy, Brave and Selfless
- Responsibility to make a difference
- Approachable, servant leader
- Inclusive and collaborative team-builder
- Cross-cultural, global citizenship
- Data-driven decision-making and team-based problem-solving
- Continuous development mindset involving critical thinking
- Measurable results and positive impact on others
Skill - learn and master through study and experience:
- Communication: listens, speaks, writes efficiently and effectively; advocates
- Professional: adheres to standards, responsible/disciplined, objective/composed
- Organizational: plans/coordinates, manages resources (time, $, human, physical)
-
Leadership Development Progression
Experiential learning via progressive (nested) experiences:
- Lead SELF: participate in weekly activities and complete assigned functional tasks focused on our Leadership Values and Skills (new Year 1 Leaders)
- Lead OTHERS: lead a weekly activity and/or coordinate completing assigned functional tasks (returning Year 1 Leaders)
- Lead TEAMS: lead others throughout the semester by providing expectations, guidance, and assessment/feedback for activities and functional responsibilities (Team Leaders: Project and Department Leaders)
- Lead LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS, and CHANGE: lead other leaders throughout the semester to achieve organizational goals and affect internal and external change (Executive Leaders)
-
Leadership Practicum
- Weekly products and activities (discussions & exercises): Introductions, self-awareness, negotiation, Amazing Race, Escape Room, building diverse teams, team-based problem-solving, mentor maps, case studies
- Inherent company activities: Self-assessments, expectations, feedback, absences, promotion/hiring, conflict resolution, communications, logistics, info management, budgeting, marketing, proposals/plans/debriefs
- External production: Community service, partnerships, competitions, internships
LSP in the News
Background
Pilot programming for LSP began in the Spring of 2021 for 17 initial students and increased to 85 students in 2025 (with some taking a gap semester in the LSP progression to study abroad).
The scalable program is modeled on key aspects of existing leadership programs and courses, including executive leadership programs from industry, the non-military components of Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) officer development and other sources to create a safe learning environment for students to experiment, take risks and grow as leaders.
The new program was made possible by the generosity of the Powers family gift and some key industry partners. Specifically, Dan Hawkins '91, founder and CEO of Summit Leadership Partners and Chair of the Dean's Senior Advisory Board, was especially instrumental in initially developing the program and providing executive-level resources, expertise and much-needed financial support to enable the program's early successes.
Support the LSPFaculty
Keith Balts, Colonel (retired), USAF, Ph.D., serves as the director of the Leadership Signature Program and is a professor of leadership practice.
Gail DePriest, director of executive leadership and corporate relations for the MBA program and senior lecturer, joined the program in the Spring of 2021 and conducts executive coaching for senior company members.
Grace Butler is a lecturer and co-instructor for the Leadership Signature Program.
Interested business students should pre-register for the Leadership Practicum as early as possible, as students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrolled students will formally apply for the certificate after their first year in the Practicum.
Leadership Signature Program
Copyright © Clemson University
Leadership Signature Program | The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, Clemson University
