NIU Alumni Association Announces the Learner to Leader Partnership With
the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
WHAT IS THE NSLS PROGRAM?
The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) is the largest and only accredited collegiate leadership
development program in the United States with over 750 chapters across the country and more than 1.8 million
members. A student chapter of the honor society has been active at Northern Illinois University (NIU) since 2019.
WHAT IS THE NSLS LEARNER TO LEADER ALUMNI PROGRAM?
The NSLS Learner to Leader program is a leadership development program designed to help alumni upskill in key
areas to grow as leaders and advance in their careers. The Northern Illinois University Alumni Assocation (NIUAA) is partnering with the NSLS to offer alumni exciting professional developmen and networking opportunies. Alumni can enroll at anytime by visiting nsls.org/beyond and entering nomination code,19865-225-12837.
WHAT WILL I LEARN IN THE LEARNER TO LEADER PROGRAM?
The Learner to Leader program combines the best of the NSLS’s Foundations of Leadership and Advanced
Leadership programs into one alumni package that’s broken up into three parts. In Foundations of Leadership:
Principles of Leadership, you will learn leadership basics, identify strengths and weaknesses, develop team-building
skills, and improve communication and collaboration skills.
In Advanced Leadership Part One: Self Leadership, you will begin learning advanced concepts in leadership
and utilize the NSLS 9 Principles and Behaviors Leadership Framework to understand your passions and goals,
culminating in the completion of a Leadership Portfolio. In Advanced Leadership Part Two: Leading Teams, you will
apply what you’ve learned to a real-world community project while supporting a team to achieve a common goal.
WHY DID THE NSLS DEVELOP THE PROGRAM?
Leadership development is an ongoing pursuit, and the NSLS wanted to meet alumni where they are in their own
leadership journeys by providing opportunities to help drive their success. With the alumni-focused Learner to
Leader program, the NSLS has created an affordable solution for college alumni to gain leadership experience to
help them advance in their careers while providing a pathway for businesses and nonprofits to identify the next
generation of leaders.
WHAT IS THE COST OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW TO I ENROLL?
To begin your professional development and networking journey through NSLS, visit The one-time registration fee for alumni members is $145. This fee includes the self-paced, online Learner to Leader program as well as lifetime membership in the NSLS, including a range of member benefits.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE NSLS LEARNER TO LEADER PROGRAM?
For alumni members, benefits include:
• Career advancement potential
• Self-paced programming
• Lifetime NSLS membership
• Networking opportunities
• Digital badges
• Partner discounts at top brands
• Success coaching
• NSLS Pay app to earn cash back on purchases
• Access to regularly updated Speaker Broadcast archives
HOW LONG DOES THE PROGRAM TAKE TO COMPLETE?
The Learner to Leader program is self-paced and takes approximately 30 hours to complete.
IS THERE A DEADLINE TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM?
Learners will have 18 months to complete all assignments to receive NSLS credit for their coursework and access to their digital badges.
ARE THE COURSES LED BY INSTRUCTORS?
All coursework will be led and graded by experienced NSLS faculty.