Leadership & Society Initiative Frequently Asked Questions 

Fellows have a variety of opportunities to connect with local and global organizations and to engage with a multigenerational community of highly motivated and skilled leaders. Some of these opportunities include:

• Mentorship and guidance from Next Chapter Advisors. 
• Exchanges with local and global organizations to examine how they are addressing major societal challenges. 
• Fellow-organized lunches, social gatherings, and cultural activities. 
• On-campus and remote university events. 
• Auditing courses from across the University’s schools and divisions. (Design Pathway only) 
• An optional (and highly encouraged) travel study experience on one of UChicago’s global campuses. (Design Pathway only)

For more information on the hands-on and networking experiences in each pathway, visit our Find Your Path page.

Highly accomplished individuals who want to explore new pathways to create positive change in the world can determine their purpose and priorities through a rigorous learning process, personalized guidance, and a supportive community. That’s the transformative education we seek to provide at the University of Chicago. LSI was specifically created to support leaders in an inflection point, helping them develop concrete plans and valuable meaningful work and stay intellectually stimulated as they pursue the next stage of their lives characterized by purposefulness, enduring wellness, and contributions to societal needs.

Choosing the right Leadership & Society Initiative (LSI) Pathway depends on your current professional status, time availability, and goals for envisioning your next chapter. There are two entry points for LSI: the Imagine Pathway and the Design Pathway.

The Imagine Pathway is designed for leaders who are nearing a career transition and seeking to imagine possibilities for a purposeful next chapter but need to balance existing professional and family commitments. With quarterly in-person retreats and digital programming in between, this low-residency option allows you to continue your daily responsibilities while providing the space to reflect, learn, and imagine your next purposeful chapter. The Imagine Pathway culminates in a personal compass for navigating purpose in your next chapter, including key decision criteria for prioritizing your energy and efforts, and a mapping of potential opportunities to align talents, passions, and societal contribution for further exploration.

The Design Pathway is ideal for leaders at a clear inflection point in their careers who are ready to design a purposeful next chapter and fully dedicate themselves to a transformative, year-long residency at the University of Chicago. This path offers deep engagement with peers, intensive in-person coursework, and a robust exploration of societal impact through hands-on experiences and travel study. The Design Pathway culminates in an individual roadmap charting a course for key principles, actions, and envisioned impact to animate this next stage of life and leadership. 

Consider your capacity for full immersion versus a more flexible, part-time approach and how each aligns with your readiness to reimagine your next stage as well as desired learning outcomes to progress your discernment forward. Both pathways offer a rigorous curriculum, coaching, and a supportive community of peers to help you achieve a meaningful and impactful next stage. 

Take our self-assessment to determine which pathway might be the best fit for you.

Fellows in the Design Pathway are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunity to audit two courses per quarter, for a total of six courses over the fellowship year, from a curated list that spans the University’s schools and divisions. This experience gives Fellows access to extraordinary scholarship and teaching and puts them in touch with current graduate and undergraduate students to participate in multigenerational dialogue. However, Fellows may choose to audit fewer courses based on their flexibility needs and desired learning outcomes for the Fellowship.

(Note: There are no audit courses in the Imagine Pathway.)

No. Candidates can select either the Imagine Pathway or the Design Pathway for their entry point into LSI. Each one offers a distinctive experience designed for candidates with unique needs and goals. The Imagine Pathway is designed with the busy executive in mind and provides an opportunity to reflect on intrinsic motivations and begin envisioning a purposeful next chapter. The Design Pathway was created for candidates who are ready to be fully immersed in the process of discerning and designing a purposeful next chapter for themselves and society. 

Yes. Fellows who complete the Imagine Pathway are well-suited to continue on into the Design Pathway. Fellows in the Imagine Pathway come away with clarity on their intrinsic motivations and a set of criteria with which they can evaluate potential opportunities in their next chapter. Fellows who choose to apply for the Design Pathway will have the opportunity to discern and commit to a purposeful pathway in their next chapter and rigorously explore the contributions they want to make. 

While there might be a specific situation where a Fellow might choose to do this, the Design Pathway offers an immersive and holistic approach to envisioning and designing a purposeful next chapter that could render participating in the Imagine Pathway mostly redundant. Those completing the Design Pathway who want to deepen their engagement should consider the Activate Pathway.

Yes. Any fellow who has completed a yearlong fellowship in any pathway has an opportunity to apply for the Activate Pathway. The Activate Pathway serves as an incubator for fellows looking for support in activating and launching their new initiative. Fellows must provide details about the project they will focus on during their advanced fellowship year. 

Absolutely! The fellowship year is just the beginning. Participation in LSI serves as a gateway into an enduring community of accomplished professionals who share a commitment to lifelong personal growth, purposeful leadership, and societal contribution. As part of our alumni experience, Fellows become part of the LSI Alliance and are invited to participate in numerous events throughout the year. For more details on our LSI Alliance community and engagement opportunities after your fellowship year, please visit our Enduring Connections page.

LSI is a highly selective fellowship for distinguished leaders who are at a point of transition toward purposeful next chapters. We welcome nominations, including self-nominations, of highly accomplished executives who are transitioning from their longstanding careers toward purposeful next chapters of leadership for society. Complete a self-reflective assessment to determine whether you are a strong candidate for the fellowship. 

We welcome nominations of any accomplished professional who fits our selective eligibility requirements, including self-nominations. See our criteria and selection page for details. 

The LSI Fellowship is a significant investment of time and resources in a Fellow’s next chapter. To see the program fees for the LSI Fellowship for the next cohort year, please visit our fees and financial assistance page.

LSI offers scholarship to make the fellowship accessible to those who meet the LSI selection criteria. LSI is committed to making the fellowships possible for the most promising candidates to ensure the cohort reflects a meaningful blend of areas of expertise, interests, and visions for leadership in their next chapter. During the final stage of admissions, candidates will have an opportunity to indicate interest in financial support. 

We offer scholarships to make the fellowship accessible to those who meet the LSI selection criteria. Contact a candidate advisor for information. 

Imagine Pathway: Fellows in the Imagine Pathway are expected to be in residence on campus during the quarterly, four-day residential retreats that occur during the program. Each retreat will occur over a Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon period once per academic quarter. Lodging is provided, but Fellows will be responsible for their own travel to and from Chicago for these residential sessions. The remainder of the year, Fellows can reside anywhere.

Design Pathway: All programming for the Design Pathway will take place in person. Our aim is to ensure a meaningful, in-person experience where Fellows will have the chance to create deep bonds with their cohort and truly delve into UChicago’s culture of intellectual exploration and free expression. The core curriculum is specifically designed as a yearlong journey held in person, including hands-on immersions and special events. To enable access for individuals with other commitments, the core curriculum is delivered from Monday through Wednesday, enabling Fellows to either participate in additional enriching activities or to travel Thursday through Sunday.

Imagine Pathway: Lodging is included in the tuition price for all fellows in the Imagine Pathway. All Fellows will be booked at the Study Hotel from Thursday-Sunday. As part of building a cohort community, we strongly encourage that all Fellows stay on-campus during these four-day residencies, regardless of home location. Fellows wishing to arrive earlier or leave later will be responsible for their own lodging.

Design Pathway: Fellows are responsible for their housing, but we are here to help. Fellows will receive guidance on places in Hyde Park and in downtown Chicago where leases are available that align with the academic year.