Cornell Leadership Program Progress Report

Based on feedback from everyone involved, the Cornell Leadership Program (CLP) has earned a grade of A! Funded through the generosity of Harry and Ann Cornell, the intent of the CLP is to attract energetic, high-potential students to MU’s Trulaske College of Business and to provide them with educational and professional-development experiences that will help them become leaders in business.

The program will be further enhanced as a result of additional generosity from the Cornells. In October, Dean Bruce Walker announced that the Cornells have pledged another $2 million in order to expand the number of students in the program from 85 to 130. Additionally, 20 more scholarships will be directed to CLP students taking part in study abroad. The endowment that will allow the Cornell Leadership Program to become self-sustaining will also be augmented.

As part of the CLP, students participate in a specially designed program that takes them beyond the traditional classroom experience. They attend talks presented by executives and entrepreneurs; take field trips to visit companies in cities such as New York and Dallas; and receive mentoring from both an upper-level business student and a graduate of the college.

Students also take part in small-group luncheons with visiting business people and scholars. Another important component of the program is a leadership seminar, which was designed especially for CLP freshmen.

Admission is highly selective and is based on academic achievement as well as evidence of demonstrated leadership and community involvement during high school. The program began with 50 students and, by design, has now grown to 85 participants in its third year.

Matt Rose, chairman and CEO of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, 
  spoke to CLP students when he visited MU.