About NCSL

Girl with NCSL FolderOver 30 Years of Student Leadership Development

The National Center for Student Leadership (NCSL) has been providing leadership development opportunities for college student leaders and their advisors for more than thirty years.

Started in 1978 as the National Conference on Student Services, NCSL has impacted tens of thousands of college students from across the country and around the world.

The organization has evolved over the years while expanding its offerings beyond its highly popular in-person conferences to include online training and other resources. The conferences, which take plave every spring and fall, continue to be the cornerstone of NCSL and remain a vital training forum for today’s student leaders. More than 1,200 students from over 200 colleges and universities will attend an NCSL conference this year.

NCSL conferences are truly unique student leadership events, bringing together student leaders from a wide variety of campus organizations, from student government and campus activities, to honor societies and residence life, and more. This exceptional opportunity gives students and advisors the chance to dialogue with others in both similar and different roles. The conference consists of multiple keynote speakers, concurrent workshop sessions facilitated by higher education professionals and professional speakers, interactive events, and several meals that provide networking opportunities. Participants not only learn from an amazing line-up of presenters, but they also learn from activities, events, and philosophies of other colleges. The conference atmosphere strongly encourages sharing and interaction.

In addition to our two national conferences, NCSL offers a large and growing library of online courses, training CDs, and white papers. These training resources provide the fundamentals for both the new and experience leaders, and dive deep into specific areas of leadership. All of the NCSL training resources are researched and presented by the top presenters in leadership training.

NCSL also offers the popular Certified Student Leader® (CSL) program. The program can be taken at one of our national conferences or through our online course. After completing the CSL program, you'll have the skills and knowledge you need to be a better leader - certified and documented. But far more important than the piece of paper are the knowledge and skills you'll take from the course. You'll be better prepared than ever to make a real difference on your campus - and better prepared for leadership roles after college, as well.

Mission Statement: NCSL equips collegiate student leaders and their advisors with comprehensive tools to achieve their leadership potential and positively impact their campuses and communities through practical, focused training and opportunities to collaborate with other student leaders.

National Center for Student Leadership