How to Apply -- Selection Criteria

The Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program candidate should be old enough to have demonstrated their leadership abilities and young enough to make significant leadership contributions beyond the completion of the program. Applicants are residents of Wisconsin who reflect the diversity and richness of backgrounds, cultures and experiences of the people of Wisconsin which greatly enrich the growth and development of the group as a whole. Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria.

Demonstrated Leadership Potential 
Applicants must have some experience in leadership activities. The applicant must provide evidence to demonstrate his or her leadership qualities and potential as indicated by community, organizational, or governmental activities listed on the application. 

Leadership Potential after the Program 
An evaluation is made of each candidate's likelihood for potential contributions over a substantial period of future years to Wisconsin through growth and experiences gained from the program. Graduation from the program is not a true end-point; rather it is a starting point for the next stage in their leadership journey.  Graduates have the expectation and responsibility to ensure their continued and even expanded active leadership in the state of Wisconsin.

Breadth of Perspective on Issues and Knowledge of Wisconsin 
Each candidate will be evaluated for his or her long-term commitment and concern for a broad scope of issues of importance to Wisconsin. 

Open-minded 
Each candidate will be evaluated for evidence that he or she is open to considering different ideas and views, that he or she exercises creativity in thinking, and that he or she does not approach problems with fixed conclusions. 

Personal Characteristics 
The applicant's character, reputation, and financial responsibility as evidenced by references will be of high quality; reflecting personal characteristics that are important in providing leadership in Wisconsin. 

Potential to be a Productive Participant 
Each candidate will be considered in terms of willingness to learn new perspectives, and ability to contribute to and benefit from seminars and other program activities. 

Potential to Work Effectively with People
The applicant must demonstrate and celebrate his or her ability to work well with others, to communicate effectively, to motivate others, to celebrate individual differences, to set goals and devise action plans to meet those goals, to make decisions, and to influence others' decisions. A successful applicant will demonstrate that he or she wants to work with, learn from, and share with other people. 

Commitment to Participate
Each applicant must be fully committed to be involved and participate in all of the study/travel seminars. Self-employed applicants must demonstrate ability to be away from their enterprise for the required amounts of time. If an applicant is not self-employed, in view of the time that will be spent away from the job as required by participation in the program, the applicant must have the written support of his/her employer. In addition, spouses/partners of applicants are asked to sign a statement demonstrating they have discussed and understand the time commitment the program entails.

Other 
If both members of a couple wish to apply, each must complete an application form.   However, it is our policy not to have both spouses/partners involved in the program, in the same group. 

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