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Leader for Life is not a program or an event. It’s a process for becoming a true leader for your entire life and preparing yourself for a great career.   While it’s critically important for you to get your education, it’s just as important for you to develop leadership qualities and skills.   A degree is important, but it’s not all you will need if you want to succeed in life.  Engage in the Leader for Life process and courses, and put what you learn into practice. In doing this, and you will transform your life and place yourself on the path to enduring success.

To qualify for the Leader for Life Certificate and Graduation Cord, you must complete all three Leader for Life courses and also complete a Capstone Project.  Recommended sequence for Leader for Life : 

• Year 1 through Year 2: Complete Leader for Life Foundations and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• Year 3: Complete Great Work, Great Career
• Year 4: Complete Capstone Project

(Of course, if you are motivated, you can complete the entire Leader for Life process in less time.)

Leader for Life Foundations is the introductory learning module that will introduce you to the entire process.  You will experience a new way of understanding leadership and see the leader in you.  Visit the Leader for Life Foundations page to begin your journey of becoming a leader! 

• Go to www.stephencovey.com enter your Cal U email address and your campus wide ID number as your password to access the Cal U Leader for Life homepage. 
• Watch the learning videos. 
• Click on the Foundations tab and scroll down to the Mission Exercise hyperlink.  Once you’ve completed the mission exercise, take the quiz. 
• Once you pass the quiz, download and print your certificate of completion to meet the qualifications for the Leader for Life Certificate and Graduation Cord.  (Click on the “Criteria” bar for more information.)
• Once successfully completed, this activity will be automatically listed on your activities transcript.

The 7 Habits are based on universal, timeless principles that govern lasting success. Dr. Covey has helped people transform their lives and organizations by learning and applying enduring principles of leadership.  You will learn the mindset, skillset and toolset for becoming a leader based on Stephen R. Covey’s bestselling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and meet qualifications for the Leader for Life Certificate and Graduation Cord. (Click on the “Criteria” bar for more information.)

Option #1 - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People—22-hour facilitator-led classroom sessions

This is perfect for students seeking an on-campus classroom format to actively connect with other peers, faculty, and staff in an exciting learning environment.   For more information on the 7 Habits classroom sessions, view the 2011-2012 workshop schedule, and to register click here.  Training materials will be provided in your first session.  (NOTE:  You can register for the classroom sessions independent of the Leader for Life program.)   Once successfully completed, this activity will be automatically listed on your activities transcript.

Option #2 - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People—12-hour online course

This is ideal for students who want the ease and flexibility of self-paced learning.  It is also a rich, engaging experience where you will participate in an online forum with other students.  To begin the online course, click here to register for your 7 Habits materials. 

• Once registered, print your confirmation and take it to the Manderino Library circulation desk, along with your Cal Card, to receive your training materials packet.
• Once you receive your materials, you can begin The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People online course any time after September 21.
• Upon finishing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People online, please bring your workbook and worksheets to the Character Education Institute in Eberly Hall 151A/B to receive your certificate of completion.  Once this activity is approved, it will be automatically listed on your activities transcript.

The economy is tough and competition is fierce. Prepare yourself now for your dream career! By participating in Great Work, Great Career (GWGC), you will gain the critical principles, mindset, skillset and toolset for differentiating yourself and finding a job and a career you love.  In order to meet this goal and earn your GWGC certificate, participants are required to complete the following activities:

• Complete a career assessment (Strong Interest Inventory or eDISCOVER).
• Complete Great Work, Great Career online at www.stephencovey.com.  Enter your Cal U email address, then enter your campus wide ID number (beginning with a capital "C" ) to access the Cal U Leader for Life homepage on www.stephencovey.com.  Click on the Great Work, Great Career tab, then click on the Lessons tab.  Complete all eight lessons, including the three lessons in the top right hand corner by Jennifer Colosimo.
• Create and upload your resume on the Career Services online resume posting/job posting site at www.collegecentral.com/calu for approval.
• Once your resume is approved, enter GWGC on your Cal U Activities Transcript at http://calyou.calu.edu/activitiestranscript/

Upon completion, your GWGC certificate will be emailed to you.  Please note: you cannot print your own GWGC certificate from the Stephen Covey website.  

For those who prefer a "live" classroom setting with classmates and the guidance of an instructor, you may choose to complete the above Great Work, Great Career Requirements by enrolling in Cal U's 1-credit Career Readiness Class (UNI 200).  In this class, you will not only complete all requirements for the Great Work, Great Career certificate - you will learn even more inside tips and put into practice current job search tools and techniques that you can use to get a job you love after graduation!  Simply register for Career Readiness UNI 200 when you register for your fall and spring classes.

For more information contact Career Services at 724-938-4413 or email careers@calu.edu.

Click here to view the sessions. 

The final module is to complete is the Capstone Project.  A component of this project will include attending Leader for Life Forum sessions.

University President Angelo Armenti, Jr. will host a monthly Leader for Life Forum. In these fora, President Armenti and other invited guests will share insights into leadership and the 7 Habits. An open mic will be available for you to ask questions or share your experiences.  The forum sessions will occur on the following dates:

• September 15
• October 13 
• November 1
• November 10
• December 1
• January 31
• March 1 - Blaney Theatre
• March 22 - Blaney Theatre
• March 29 - Blaney Theatre
• April 10 - Leadership Day - Steele Main Stage


These sessions will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Blaney Theatre (back of Steele), with the exception of Leadership Day on April 10, 2012.

Additional forum sessions will be scheduled each semester and posted when confirmed.

If you are interested in qualifying for the Leader for Life Certificate and Graduation Cord, you will be required to attend a minimum of five forum sessions.  (Click on the “Criteria” bar for more information.)

These sessions are filmed and posted on these webpages: Click here to view the sessions.  For those students unable to make the live forum sessions, view five (5) sessions online and then contact the Character Education Institute at 724-938-5038 or charactered@calu.edu to schedule a visit or call with the department to discuss the sessions and obtain approval for having completed this requirement. 

The final module is to complete the Capstone Project.  Another element of the Capstone Project is to complete a Service-Learning Project approved by the Director of the Center for Civic Engagement. 

For more information contact Diane Williams, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, at 724-938-4794 or email williams_d@calu.edu.

The Center for Civic Engagement can also be emailed at volunteer@calu.edu.

We encourage you to invest in yourself and earn the Leader for Life Certificate and Graduation Cord. This is among the highest leadership achievements at Cal U, and we look forward to honoring you with your certificate and cord at your graduation ceremony. 

The criteria to achieve this honor include the following:

1.  Receive your certificates of completion in: 

• Leader for Life Foundations
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• Great Work, Great Career

2.  Attend a minimum of 5 Leader for Life Forum Sessions conducted by President Armenti

3.  Complete a Capstone Project:

• 5-hour service project; you may work with the Office of Civic Engagement to help you choose a project

Click on the following link to register for an activities transcript http://calyou.calu.edu/activitiestranscript/

1.  How do I get started with the Leader for Life Program?

In order to get started with Leader for Life, review the various steps in the orange drop down menus above.  Requirements for each step of the program are listed separately and in detail.  You will be required to access the Stephen Covey website at www.stephencovey.com and login with your Cal U email address and your 8-digit campus wide ID (CWID) number beginning with a capital “C”.    

2.  Is Leader for Life required to graduate?

Leader for Life is not required for graduation, as this program is strictly voluntary.   However, we highly recommend that you participate in this program.  Cal U has been named the world’s first and only FranklinCovey Leadership University.  Completion of this program will not only provide you with the skills to become a more effective leader, it will differentiate you from other candidates in the job market.

3.  What are the steps for Leader for Life Program?

You can review all of the steps in the orange drop down menus above.

4.  How do I cancel my Leader for Life registration?

As a student at Cal U, you automatically have access to the Leader for Life program; no registration is required.  Should you choose not to participate, there is no need to cancel from the overall Leader for Life program.   

5.  Why can’t I print out my certificate for the program?

There are four certificates that students can receive while participating in the Leader for Life program:

 (1) Foundations Certificate

You can print this certificate only after you have reviewed the two introductory videos, completed the Mission Statement exercise, and have scored 90% or better on the quiz.

 (2) 7 Habits Certificate

If you take the 7 Habits online, you must contact the Character Education Institute at charactered@calu.edu or call 724-938-5038 in order to receive your certificate.  If you take the 7 Habits course in the classroom, the facilitator will provide you with the certificate at the end of the workshop.

 (3) Great Work, Great Career (GWGC) Certificate

Upon completion of the requirements for GWGC, you will be required to contact Career Services in order to receive your certificate.  For more information contact Career Services at 724-938-4413 or email careers@calu.edu.

 (4) Leader for Life Certificate of Achievement

This certificate is awarded upon completion of all Leader for Life program requirements, including the capstone project.  Once the Character Education Institute has confirmed completion of all Leader for Life requirements, your certificate will be printed and placed in the Cal U Bookstore where you will also purchase your graduation cord for $7.00.

 If you have further questions about Leader for Life or any of the courses and criteria, please contact the Cal U Character Education Institute at 724-938-5038.