Foundations of Community Leadership & Civil Advocacy from Shepherd University

[staceydiane]

The Foundations of Community Leadership & Civil Advocacyis from Shepherd University and it came across my Facebook feed today.  I applied to it.


This course will prepare students to be effectively engaged community leaders by acquiring the skills to advocate for themselves, their employers, their community, and the causes they care about.  Successful course completers will earn 3 credit hours and a Community Leadership & Civil Advocacy (CLCA) certificate from the Stubblefield Institute. 

https://stubblefieldinstitute.org/commun...y-badm-299

[bjcheung77]

Just wondering. What's the tuition for this cert?

[Vle045]

Just wondering.  What's the tuition for this cert?

It looks like there might not be a tuition.  They are not college.  And the credit is only applicable to their partner institutions but it doesn’t give a list other than Shepherd University.  It says you will get only the certificate if you are not a Shepherd student.  It could be interesting since it appears to be bipartisan political focus.  But I don’t think this will lead to actual college credit for most people here.

[Maniac Craniac]

So, it's 3 credits. It's undergrad. It's a certificate. But it's not a 3-credit undergrad certificate.

The topic and format look very interesting. Too bad I don't have the time!

[Maniac Craniac]

I signed up to get more information. I got this automated email:

What is it? 

1. It’s project-based. You pick your own project. Through this project, you will put the skills you’re learning about in the classroom into practice. This project can be for an organization that you work for or volunteer for, your business, or anything else about which you are passionate.
   
   
2. It’s interactive. Throughout the 15 weeks, community leaders will join you in the classroom to teach the skills necessary for successful community leadership and advocacy. We have a powerhouse lineup ready to walk with you during this journey—Paul Espinosa, Rachael Meads, Amy Panzarella, and Penny Porter, just to drop a few names.
   
   You’ll also go out into the community to meet the leaders in your area of interest and get connected with the community that supports your cause. If you’re already connected with this community, then you’ll get a chance to collaborate with your peers and explore possible new connections.
   
   
3. It’s real life. You will learn skills that you will put into practice for the rest of your life. Our students who completed this program last year amazed us!
   

When is it?
On-line course
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
January 12, 2026 – May 1, 2026
 
What does the project require?
Each participant gets to pick an advocacy project that is interesting to them. Not sure what that might be? Don’t worry. We’ll help you figure it out. Then each week you’ll hear from professionals who have years of experience being community leaders and advocating for many great causes in our community, at the state level, and on Capitol Hill. The after-session assignments will walk you through boosting your community leadership skills and putting together your advocacy case, so by the end of the semester, you’ll be ready to complete your advocacy pitch to someone who can help you make your case a reality. Once you pitch your advocacy case, your project is done! The semester ends with a celebration of your work to make your community a better place.
 
How much does it cost?
$1,000 for the 15-week online course being offered beginning in January. A 20% discount is available for small businesses and nonprofits. This is also a great opportunity to use any professional development benefits your employer might offer.
 
We’re excited to see what our students do this semester! I hope you’ll be one of them!

It's too pricy for me, so even if I could fit it into my schedule in a future semester, I would still have to miss out.

To get the credit, you can apply to Shepherd University as a nondegree student. I looked around, but couldn't find out if the application fee is the same for nondegree students and degree-seeking students. However, I did read that they do not have any admissions requirements for nondegree students. The application has you check a box saying that you don't intend to get more than 7 credits. Also, the school was offering an application fee waiver for all applicants in November, so there is a precedent for getting your application fee waived.

That's all I got. The cost really isn't that bad for what you get, compared to what most students pay for 3 credits. However, it doesn't hold up compared to all the deals and hacks and freebies we have catalogued on this very forum.

[SteveFoerster]

That's all I got. The cost really isn't that bad for what you get, compared to what most students pay for 3 credits. However, it doesn't hold up compared to all the deals and hacks and freebies we have catalogued on this very forum.

I must agree. But I'll admit that there's a part of me that wants to love this, since I spent my first year out of high school at Shepherd then-College and had a reasonably good time there. (Irrelevant, I know.)

[CollegeStudentAC]

1k is crazy