Program Description

Today’s global society calls for college graduates who can lead, innovate and think entrepreneurially. Each year, a cohort of about 200 freshmen will be selected as Global Leadership Initiative (GLI) Fellows. These fellowships will last all four years of their undergraduate education and will include four main components.

COMPONENT 1: The Context of Global Questions

During their first year of study, the Fellows will enroll in seminars focused on new and enduring Global Questions taught by UM faculty recognized for their scholarly work and teaching excellence. Fellows also will attend the Presidential Lecture Series, getting an opportunity to participate in structured discussions with UM faculty, as well as national and international figures, who are experts in their fields and involved in seeking answers to global questions. Faculty mentors and advisors will help entering Fellows find an answer to the concern, “How do I design my college experience to deal with these kinds of critical and complex questions?”

COMPONENT 2: Models of Leadership

Distinguished alumni and friends of the University will be invited to interact with students enrolled in the UM Global Leadership Initiative through an intensive Models of Leadership program. Each year, national and international leaders in business, law, science, the arts, humanities, social sciences, and public service with ties to the University will be brought to Missoula to discuss with the Fellows approaches and experiences necessary for meeting challenges posed in the global century. The weekend retreats will be facilitated by UM faculty and chosen leaders and will typically be held at one of the University's off-campus properties to provide a concentrated opportunity for discussion and reflection. Each will involve approximately 50 Fellows, who will select according to the major topic and expertise provided by the visiting leader.

COMPONENT 3:  Beyond the Classroom

All Fellows enrolled in the initiative will participate in activities that broaden their understanding and applied interaction with global questions. These opportunities include Study Abroad, international and regional/local Internships or Field Experiences, Service-Learning coursework, and Research or Creative Scholarship. The University will provide each fellow with a U.S. Passport and the opportunity to apply for funding to cover travel and research expenses. Fellows will be able to take advantage of University partnerships already in place through the International Programs office and other appropriate academic departments, as well as online opportunities to stay connected should they engage in an experience off campus or abroad.

COMPONENT 4:  Leadership and Teamwork Brought to Fruition—The Capstone

The Fellows enrolled in the Global Leadership Initiative will demonstrate mastery through interdisciplinary, culminating capstone projects fashioned by the students. In small, faculty-supported groups, Fellows will address crucial issues affecting the world community, such as economic development and expansions, cultural and historical clashes, population and environmental changes and their effects on production, and the development of democratic societies. They will collaborate to design specific questions and propose solutions. At the culmination of the Global Leadership Initiative, successful Fellows will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.