Applications for 2025-26 ELI and SLI programs now available
Application Process
Each agency has an internal process for submitting, reviewing, and approving applications. After applications are reviewed at the agency level, they are passed to a review committee of program alumni and enterprise leadership for final approval. After submitting their application in June, participants will be notified of their acceptance into the program the following August.
Here are a few guides to help prospective applicants and agency application review teams:
To qualify for the ELI or SLI program, you must be employed by the state for at least two years as of September 13, 2025.
SLI candidates must be in a managerial role, experienced director role, or higher.
To be considered for either program, you must submit all components of your application form – including required letters of support (as detailed in your application).
As a participant, you commit to attending all classes and completing all assignments to qualify for program graduation.
You do not have to be an ELI graduate to qualify for the SLI program (however, ETD encourages this comprehensive leadership development path!) Your agency may set additional qualification standards. Work with your Human Resources, Training Development, and leadership teams to ensure you understand the minimum qualifications at your agency.
ELI and SLI support personal and professional development for those on-the-rise in state service. The selection process is highly competitive for each of these programs – be sure to fill out your application with honesty and care.
If you have any questions about either program or the application process, contact your Human Resources and/or Training and Development Teams. You can also reach out to Enterprise Talent Development (ETD).
Request an application. Ask your training and development team and/or agency’s HR department for a program application; they will provide you with a fillable PDF. You may be required to provide documentation outside of the PDF application (such as proof of completed annual training or work examples) – work with your supervisor and/or HR teams to ensure you understand your agency’s requirements, process, and due date.
Complete and submit your application. Review application prompts carefully to ensure a thoughtful response. Complete and submit your application by your agency’s due date (typically around June 1).
SLI applicants must provide a signed letter of recommendation from their deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, commissioner, or similar senior leadership role. All letters for either program must be written on agency letter head. Your application cannot be submitted without a recommendation letter(s).
Have patience. Hundreds of state agency employees apply to the ELI and SLI programs each year. Your application will be seen by up to two separate review committees. It can take a few weeks for each committee to review applications. Whether or not you are accepted into the program, you will be notified in August 2025.
Applications will ask you to describe your current job role and will pose six questions about leading as an employee.
Responses to each question are limited to 1,500 characters. Below is a preview of the questions featured on your application form:
Which qualities are important in future leaders in public services?
How do you exhibit these qualities in your current role?
What are your future aspirations or goals as a leader?
What skills do you hope to develop by participating in the program?
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) are valued at the state. In what ways have you demonstrated a commitment to supporting or furthering DEAI initiatives at work? In what ways have you sought to increase your own self-awareness and growth in those areas?
How will participating in this program benefit your agency and help further the State of Minnesota's goals and strategic initiatives?
Your application will be reviewed by up to two approval committees. These committees will be looking for insight into your values and work ethic based on your responses. Take time to answer these prompts thoughtfully before submitting your application to your agency, and do not leave any response fields blank.
Complete the access request form to ensure everyone on your agency’s application review and applicant support team are members of the Teams channel. You must complete this form to gain access to private folders and save applicant files.
You can also use the form to let ETD know who from your agency should be added, removed, and retained. If you don’t have any access changes from last year, you do not need to complete the access request form.
Phase 2: Set Your Agency's Application Deadline
Applications are available enterprise-wide on May 1, 2025. Your agency’s approved applications must be submitted to the Application Teams channel by 4:30 p.m. on June 23, 2025.
Set an application deadline for your agency that allows time for applicants and application review teams to complete their work thoughtfully. ETD recommends an application deadline of June 6 for each agency. This allows about five weeks for applicants to respond to prompts and request recommendation letters and about two weeks for approval committees to review submissions.
Contact ETD before June 23 via email or the Teams channel after you’ve completed your internal process. Your agency’s application deadline must be before June 23. ETD will not accept new applications after the deadline.
Phase 3: Inform and Support Applicants
Share the application form
ETD provides an accessible, fillable PDF application to each agency’s Human Resources and Learning and Development sections. The prompts on this PDF cannot be altered. Agencies are allowed to request additional information from applicants separate from the PDF applications, such as proof of annual training completion and work examples.
Promote the programs. Promotion is a collaborative effort between leadership, engagement, and communication teams. Ensure everyone at your agency knows about these development opportunities, how to apply, and when their application is due. Use this template to customize a promotional message to your agency.
Share the ELI and SLI Application Process Guide. We’ve created an application process and information guide to help your applicants stay informed and stay on track. This information can also be found on the ETD website.
ELI and SLI cohort schedules are available on this webpage under the “ELI Program Schedule” and “SLI Program Schedule” sections.
Program Costs
ELI: $3,840
SLI: $4,670
Remind applicants that they must follow your agency’s procedures for encumbering funds for FY26. Most applicants should be able to ask their supervisors for assistance.
Highlight your agency’s application deadline
Ensure applicants and the application review team are aware of your agency’s application deadline. As noted in Phase 2, your agency’s application deadline must be before June 23. ETD recommends an application deadline of June 6 for each agency.
Work with your agency’s communications team to send reminders as your approach your agency’s application deadline.
Phase 4: Reviewing Applications
Your agency has control over your application review and approval process. ETD encourages you to allow enough time for everyone on the review committee to reflect on each applicant submission.
ELI and SLI programs are unique opportunities with big career impact. Be intentional with your recommendations. ETD is looking for employees who can bring their diverse backgrounds and unique experiences to these cohort-based programs to nurture future leaders in state government.
Phase 5: Submitting Approved Applications
After your review process is complete, save approved applicant files to your agency’s private folder within the ELI and SLI Applicant Teams channel.
How to save approved applicant files
Add approved applications to your agency’s folder using the following file naming convention:
For ELI applications: Last name_first name_ELI Application
For SLI applications: Last name_first name_SLI Application
Add supporting documents for approved applicants to your agency’s folder using the following file naming convention:
For ELI letters of recommendation: Last name_first name_Letter of Recommendation
For ELI letters of support (individuals): Last name_first name_HR Support Letter
For ELI letters of support (agency): Agency name_HR Support Letter
For SLI letters of recommendation: Last name_first name_Commissioner Letter
While there is no limit to how many applicants each agency can recommend, please be thoughtful with your final selections. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Promote the programs. Ensure everyone at your agency knows about these leadership development opportunities, how to apply, and when their application is due to your agency’s leadership/applicant review committee.
Talk it out. If you know someone who would be a good fit for a leadership program such as ELI or SLI, talk to them directly about the potential you see! Sometimes it just takes a few words of encouragement for someone to make a move.
Help review. Many applications are rejected due to inarticulate responses or incomplete applications – offer to review responses for your colleagues and share the ETD Course catalog for more skills development opportunities.
Give it another try! ELI and SLI are highly competitive programs, with many participants submitting multiple applications before getting accepted. Additional spots have been opened in past years, meaning more chances for acceptance. Don’t let your colleagues (or yourself) give up!
ETD hosted two information sessions for enterprise employees interested in learning more about the ELI and SLI programs. During the sessions, the ETD team provided information and answered questions, and recent program graduates shared their experiences.
