Pioneering the Leadership for Public Purpose Classification

What is Leadership for Public Purpose?

Leadership for Public Purpose (LPP) is an elective classification hosted by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in partnership with the American Council on Education (ACE), aimed at recognizing higher education institutions that demonstrate a commitment to leadership development. This classification serves as a framework for institutions to assess and enhance their leadership programs, ensuring intentionality and measurable outcomes. 

Background & History

The LPP Elective Classification was conceived to foster leadership development across higher education institutions. The Doerr Institute at Rice University played a pivotal role in this effort. Carla Ortega Santori, who manages the day-to-day operations of the LPP classification, elaborated on the inception of this initiative back in 2019, stating, "The Doerr Institute's mission is to meet students wherever they are and tailor their leadership development journey accordingly."

Initially, the Doerr Institute examined leadership development practices at colleges and universities across the country and discovered that many institutions had difficulty measuring their outcomes effectively. This realization led to the creation of an elective classification framework aimed at driving systemic change in leadership development.

In 2020, the Doerr Institute convened for two and a half days with 30 scholars and practitioners in the leadership development field to design the application process and define what leadership for public purpose looks like, how it manifests on campuses, and what metrics are involved in measuring the outcomes. During the meeting, a draft of the LPP classification was developed and continued to be refined in collaboration with the Carnegie Foundation. This effort included a pilot process with institutions undergoing a trial application to test and refine the framework. Carla explained, "We hosted a pilot process with nine institutions which was like a mock application process. We wanted to learn what worked and what needed to be refined. The pilot application was key in learning what the process could look like."

The first cycle of the LPP classification was launched in March 2022, receiving 34 applications. Out of these, 25 were classified, representing a diverse mix of institutions, including Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), private and public universities, service academies, and a professional graduate school.

GivePulse and the Application

GivePulse is used as the application host technology for the Community Engagement Elective Classification, with many institutions leveraging the platform to gather the quantitative and qualitative data used to complete the application. From the start of the LPP classification development, GivePulse has served as the application host technology, allowing institutions to apply directly on the platform.

GivePulse has been a significant thought partner in developing the LPP classification application. Carla shared, "GivePulse and CEO and Co-Founder, George Luc, have been great thought partners in the process and have been with us since the inception of the LPP classification. GivePulse has provided us with a centralized platform to gather data, feedback, reflections, and more."

Carla noted, "GivePulse was instrumental in revamping the review process. Even after applications were submitted, we could conduct the whole review process via the platform. We're using GivePulse now when drafting and completing feedback reports." Additionally, the partnership with GivePulse as the application technology has helped design an effective way to compile and understand data for future research in the field.

2024 Cycle

"The first cycle was exploratory; we were really trying to consider all that those colleges were doing in regards to LPP," said Carla. The application process provided a comprehensive overview of the institutions' assessment methods, contributing to valuable insights and improvements in leadership development practices.

Among the 25 institutions classified, Rice University is now recognized as a leader in public-purpose leadership development. Carla highlighted, "It's an amazing recognition. We learned so much throughout the process, identifying strengths and areas for growth. We are excited to continue the work and recognize the efforts of offices and departments doing great work on campus." This classification reflects the dedication and hard work of faculty, staff, and students, reinforcing Rice's commitment to Leadership for Public Purpose.

Congratulations to the 25 pioneering campuses that achieved classification in the 2024 cycle. Their dedication to fostering leadership for public purpose sets a benchmark for other institutions to follow.