Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS)

The Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS) is a partnership between the School of Professional & Continuing Studies and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police (VACP).

PELS is an intensive three-week leadership education program designed for individuals who currently serve in executive and upper-level positions within their organizations.

The objective of PELS is to acquaint participants with best practices in leadership, challenge them to reflect upon their own leadership competency, and examine ways of achieving both personal and professional growth.

The PELS program is conducted on campus for one week a month for three consecutive months in the spring and fall semesters. Attendees are required to attend all three weeks of the program. Individuals accepted into the program must be prepared to commit to this schedule.

VACP reviews applicants and manages participant experiences, and SPCS hosts each cohort and manages instructional leaders and materials. Classes are taught by faculty members from all five schools within the University (Arts & Sciences, Business, Law, Leadership Studies & Professional & Continuing Studies) and Executive Education. The curriculum is liberal arts/humanities-based and focused on the study of leadership at an advanced level.

VACP and UR jointly award a certificate of completion to those individuals who successfully complete all phases of the program. Additionally, during the certificate award ceremony, the PELS Graduate Leadership Award is given to recognize one member of each PELS class who has demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities throughout the PELS program. The award was established by Porcher Taylor, SPCS professor emeritus and founding chair of paralegal studies.

The PELS program was created in 1993, and the first PELS class graduated on April 15, 1994.

More Information

To learn more about PELS, including how to apply to participate and enroll in the next cohort, contact VACP directly and visit PELS online.