About the Student Leadership Engagement Initiative (SLEI)
In the summer of 2024, the Student Leadership Engagement Initiative (SLEI) was launched, bringing together students from across the University with the purpose of creating an opportunity for students to learn from each other, listen to each other, build new connections, and bring back to Columbia a renewed sense of possibility, helping other students to successfully navigate the coming year.
To create the inaugural cohort of SLEI students, University Life reached out to schools and administrative leadership with an ask to nominate student leaders to participate. Students in SLEI represent undergraduate and graduate student councils, recognized student organizations across all campuses, and the Student Affairs Committee of the University Senate (SAC) - with the express intention of bringing information from SLEI back to their school communities. Since the launch, students within SLEI have been able to nominate other student leaders.
All students who participate receive payment to compensate them for the time, ideas, and efforts they commit to the initiative. Seven sessions were held in Fall 2024, an all-day retreat was held in January 2025, and seven sessions are planned for Spring 2025. In order to receive the stipend, students must participate in the scheduled sessions, the winter retreat, and complete exit tickets after each session.
Since its inception, SLEI’s goals have been:
- Establishing a cohort of student leaders who actively listen to each other and explore differences in points of view.
- Developing students’ leadership skills, as well as engaging students as leaders of our community, on timely topics.
- Providing opportunities to engage with University leadership to provide advice and share students’ experience.
The task of shaping SLEI is an ongoing, iterative process, with the format and sessions adjusted based on current events and student feedback. The cohort of over 70 students consistently attends, representing all schools and all campuses. This first year of SLEI is a pilot program, and future SLEI cohorts and programs will be developed based on feedback.