Curriculum

Academic Year Structure

Fall: Application Phase
Applications open early in the fall semester. 

Mid-Fall - Early Winter: Development Phase

The CARVE Lecture Series

The foundation of LDI is five one-hour sessions, each dedicated to one leadership competency. Each session blends direct instruction with hands-on experiential activities.

• Collaborative — Build trust and drive results through shared purpose and teamwork.
• Adaptable — Navigate change with flexibility, resilience, and a growth mindset.
• Reflective — Lead with self-awareness and learn continuously from every experience.
• Visionary — Think ahead, inspire others, and turn bold ideas into action.
• Ethical — Make principled decisions and lead with integrity in every situation.

Leadership Lab

Between sessions, cohort members engage in Leadership Lab simulations — structured, low-stakes exercises designed to apply each competency in real scenarios. Labs create a space to experiment, fail, reflect, and grow before the stakes are higher.

Mid-Winter: Case Study Phase

Blended teams of students work on a real-world problem presented by a sponsoring company for four to six weeks, applying CARVE principles. Teams check-in weekly with administrators and faculty mentors. 

Early Spring: The Leadership Case Study Competition (Summit)

This case study competition requires interdisciplinary teams to tackle a real, industry-sourced challenge. Teams present their strategies to a closed panel of judges, earning both feedback from working professionals and the experience of performing under genuine pressure. Top-performing teams receive educational scholarship awards funded by program sponsors.

Digital Badges

Every cohort member earns a digital badge upon completion. A digital badge is a verified, portable, and shareable electronic credential that certifies a specific set of leadership competencies and can be displayed on LinkedIn, a resume, or a professional portfolio.