The Progress Energy Leadership Institute is a UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science initiative designed to meet the needs of industry. This initiative addresses three concerns of business leaders:
   1) Engineers and computer scientists, though sound technically, are        often ill-prepared for leadership roles within an organization;
   2) Due to the retirement of baby-boomers, there is a growing need        for graduates to possess demonstated leadership skills; and
   3) There is a need for leadership training at all levels of an        organization.

Headquartered in the Industrial Engineering Department, the Institute provides a solid underpinning of leadership insights. Those insights create an outstanding foundation and proving ground for extraordinary leadership practice. Business and community leaders provide real life learning opportunities as guest speakers on targeted topics. There are also many off-campus visits.

The Institute is a nine month experiential program that includes a self-assessment of leadership skills and traits, conflict management, verbal and written communications, situational leadership, diversity training, strategic planning, networking, risk taking, business and social etiquette, ethics and values in leadership, leadership team development and much more.

The Institute is open to thirty engineering and computer science majors entering their junior or senior year and current employees of Progress Energy. Twenty-five students will receive a $1,500 scholarship. The Institute uses a highly selective, merit-based process to ensure that only top candidates are chosen to participate.

The Institute's deliverable will be a graduate better prepared to contribute through their technical and leadership abilities.