Sponsors
Modeled after the Chamber's Leadership Tampa program, Collegiate Leadership inspires, educates, and engages a diverse group of emerging leaders as they transition from college to career.
Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay
Collegiate Leadership inspires, educates, and engages a diverse group of emerging leaders as they transition from college to career.
Collegiate Leadership Interest Form
If you are interested in applying for the program, please fill out this form for more information.
Current Class
See all of the members of the current Collegiate Leadership class.
CLTB 2024 Impact Report
The year in review for the Collegiate Leadership class of 2024.
Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay
Applications
The Collegiate Leadership application period is now closed.
Collegiate Leadership provides approximately 30-50 students each year with an opportunity to engage with diverse student leaders from other area colleges and build professional and personal skills for life after college.
The program recognizes students who have demonstrated leadership within their campus community, as well as academic success. Collegiate Leadership is a tuition-based, academic-year-long program (August - April) that prepares student leaders to have a positive impact on their future communities while they explore careers in the nonprofit, private, public, and philanthropic sectors that highlight what makes Tampa Bay a favored place to live and work. The program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to develop their professional lives and build a future as engaged Tampa Bay citizens.
Program days will occur once a month on Fridays. Topics will be updated annually to reflect issues of importance at that time. During the program, participants take part in an opening session, six program days and a closing session graduation.
Collegiate Leadership is part of the Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation.
Outcomes
Collegiate Leadership graduates can expect to:
- Identify and build their leadership style, strengths, and competencies.
- Develop the soft and professional skills needed to secure meaningful employment.
- Explore career pathways in private, nonprofit and public sectors.
- Access peer support, professional networks and circles of influence necessary to build their civic and professional lives in Tampa Bay.
- Broaden their perspectives and understanding of the industries and job opportunities in Tampa Bay.
- Live and work in Tampa Bay after graduation and serve as a community leader.
- Gain a greater understanding of community opportunities through interaction and collaboration with peers, leaders and decision makers from all segments of the community.
- Become a responsible leader committed to active community involvement.
Class of 2026 Application Process
Criteria
All candidates must meet the criteria outlined below, as well as submit the application with supporting materials by the application deadline to be considered for the program. Each university will receive their list of candidates to verify that criteria has been met.
Criteria:
- Be a full-time, undergraduate student throughout the entirety of the program and be enrolled at:
- Saint Leo University
- The University of Tampa
- University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences or Muma College of Business
- Be in good standing at your university
- Have demonstrated university and/or community leadership
Timeline
| Applications Open | Aug. 5, 2024 |
| Applications Close | Dec. 9, 2024 |
| Candidate Interviews | Feb. 2025 – Applicants will be given specific dates when they are confirmed. |
| Class Notification | Mar. 2025 |
| Official Class Announcement | Apr. 2025 |
| Term | August 2025 – April 2026 |
| Program Fee | Program tuition will be paid in full by student’s university. |
Program
The Collegiate Leadership Program is an experiential program. Applicants must commit to full attendance at every program day from 8:00am – 5:00pm. Below are the anticipated program dates for the Class of 2026.
| Virtual Kickoff | 8/13/2025, 6:00-7:15pm |
| Opening Session | 9/19/2025, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Program Day 1: | 10/10/2025, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Program Day 2: | 10/24/2025, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Program Day 3: | 11/14/2025, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Program Day 4: | 1/30/2026, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Program Day 5: | 2/13/2026, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Program Day 6: | 3/6/2026, 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Closing Session | 4/10/2026, 8:00am-5:00pm |
Dates are subject to change.
Session Logistics
- All program days will run from 8:00am – 5:00 pm
- All days will begin at the Tampa Bay Chamber.
- The Chamber will handle all transportation during the program day.
- Students will be responsible for their own arrival at the Chamber to begin the day.
- Lunch will be provided by the Chamber.
Attendance
- Attendance at the Opening and Closing Sessions are mandatory.
- Attendance at all Program Days is expected.
- Those who miss more than one (1) program day will be dropped from the program without a refund of tuition and university coordinators will be notified.
- Missing any portion of a program day is considered a full day absence.
- All absences require notification prior to the program date.
Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay
Applications
The Collegiate Leadership application period is now closed.