LEAD Program
The LEAD Program is open to any LSC-CyFair student in good standing, with a desire to enhance their leadership skills. Our program is designed to prepare leaders for a variety of settings, both at the college and in students' personal and work lives. There is no out-of-pocket expense for students to participate in the programs offered by LSC-CyFair. Students can complete components of the program to earn leadership certificates. Students who complete 2 components, with at least one of them being LSC-CyFair sponsored, can submit an essay and service hours to be recognized with an Advanced Leadership Certificate. The LEAD Program is coordinated through the Office of Student Life.
Student Life Sponsored Components
Students who complete one of these components, sponsored by LSC-CyFair Student Life, will earn a leadership certificate. At least one of these components must be completed to earn the Advanced Leadership Certificate.
- LEAD Retreat (usually held in fall semester, may not be offered every year)
- 2-day (overnight) retreat at Camp Allen, where students can challenge themselves and build their skills as leaders
- Lone Star College System-Wide Leadership Conference
- Leadership Challenge Series (3-part series in spring semester)
- Spring 2026 session dates/times TBA
- All participants will receive a copy of the book The Student Leadership Challenge (Kouzes & Posner) at the first session.
- Disney Leadership Institute
Students who complete any of these programs will earn a leadership certificate.
Non-Student-Life-Sponsored Components
Students may have valuable leadership development training and experiences through other conference and programs. Students can submit a request for one of these experiences to be counted as a component in the LEAD Program.
Examples of what could count as a LEAD Program component:
- Attendance at a regional or national conference focused on leadership and development (e.g. PTK Catalyst, APCA/NACA/ASGA conferences)
- Participation in a leadership conference at another college or university
- Completing the steps to Induction for the National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) - Note: LSC-CyFair no longer has a chapter, but some of our LSC sister campuses still have them.
Examples of what would NOT count as a LEAD Program component:
- Service as a club officer
- Helping to plan an event or workshop
These are just a few examples. There are limitless possibilities, so it would be futile to try to list every possibility here.
To request credit for a Non-Student-Life-Sponsored Component:
- Submit an email to Dan.Mitsven@lonestar.edu with the following information:
- Name of the component (for example, University of Houston-Clear Lake Leadership Conference)
- Date(s) attended
- Description of the event or activity (include examples of topics covered at sessions)
- If at all possible, include link(s) to information about the program
- If you have a copy of the program, that's even better!
Advanced Leadership Certificate
Students who complete at least 2 components, with at least one being a Student Life Sponsored Component, who wish to earn an Advanced Leadership Certificate must do the following by March 31 to be recognized at the annual Student Excellence Awards ceremony:
- Complete 8 hours of approved community service
- This does not include campus service, but rather service to our surrounding community. It DOES include service for CyFest. While the event is held on campus, the event was created to serve our local community.
- Service may only be to support non-profit entities.
- You should select service that aligns with your interests and beliefs.
- If you have any question as to whether the service you're thinking about would be allowable, email the Director of Student Life at Dan.Mitsven@lonestar.edu
- Write a 2-page reflection paper
- Topic for the paper: Leaders: Why it Is Important for Us to Serve Others
- Details - 2-pages, double spaced, size 12 font, 1-inch margins.
Submit materials to Dan.Mitsven@lonestar.edu.
Advanced Leadership Certificates are presented at the annual Student Excellence Awards ceremony in April.