The first Institute was held on October 9-11, 1987 at the Center City Holiday Inn in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. Twenty-one students representing SSHE institutions - Penn State, LaSalle and Temple Universities and the Community College of Philadelphia - were selected from more than forty applicants. Each applicant met the following criteria: good academic standing, demonstrated leadership ability, two letters of recommendation, and a one-hundred word essay indicating how the Institute would be of benefit to the applicant.
The Institute was facilitated by Dr. J. Otis Smith; Dr. Tom Gordon of Stand-By-Systems II; Ms. Myra Dillingham of Penn State University; Ms. Doris Cross of Millersville University; Dr. Eddie Manning of Temple University and Mr. Lawrence A. Dowdy of West Chester University.
The key topics covered were self-concept, communication skills, group problem-solving/decision-making, and motivating others. Representative Chakka Fattah, now U.S. Congressman, was the keynote speaker at the award brunch program.
Since the Institute began, PBCOHE has provided leadership training to over 4,500 college students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This unique event gives students an opportunity to participate in workshops that examine effective leadership skills, cross-cultural communication, interpersonal relations, building inclusive environments, and fostering cultural awareness. In addition to providing an opportunity for the development of future leaders, students who are active campus leaders have a forum to exchange ideas and to network with each other and with Institute faculty and staff. Mentoring and establishing support networks are instrumental in student retention, graduate school participation, and career exploration.
This Institute continues to grow in service for students, colleges/universities, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and by assisting in the fulfilling of the goals and objectives of the PBCOHE. To ensure future operation of the SLDI, the executive committee of the PBCOHE established a permanent standing committee to coordinate and maintain a high quality program.