Apply for a Program

• To qualify for the ELI or SLI program, you must be employed by the state for at least two (2) years as of September 13, 2023.
• 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.

Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) Class Schedule 

September 2023 – March 2024

* Days that shift from regularly scheduled Tues., Weds., or Fri. meeting days
+ Program date changed to accommodate holiday
++ In-person sessions; contingent on accommodation, weather, and low COVID infection rates

Cohort 31

ELI Cohort 31 will meet every other Tuesday and will either be virtual, or, ½ virtual and ½ in-person based on the majority preference

• 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., *++Wed., September 13, 2023 (Opening Ceremony)
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., *Thurs., September 14, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Tues., September 26, 2023
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., +Tues., October 10, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Tues., October 24, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., +Tues., November 14, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Tues., November 28, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tues., December 12, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Tues., January 9, 2024
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tues., January 23, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Tues., February 6, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tues., February 20, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., *Tues., March 5, 2024 (Final Presentations)
• 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., *++Fri., March 15, 2024 (Graduation)  

Cohort 32

ELI Cohort 32 will meet every other Wednesday with a few exceptions and will be ½ virtual and ½ in-person. 

• 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., *++Wed., September 13, 2023 (Opening Ceremony)
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., *Thurs., September 14, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Wed., September 27, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., +Wed., October 11, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Wed., October 25, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., +Wed., November 15, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Wed., November 29, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wed., December 13, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Wed., January 10, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wed., January 24, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Wed., February 7, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wed., February 21, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wed., March 6, 2024  (Final Presentations)
• 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., *++Fri., March 15, 2024 (Graduation)  

Cohort 33

ELI Cohort 33 will meet every other Friday with a few exceptions, and most sessions will be virtual.

• 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., *++Wed., September 13, 2023 (Opening Ceremony)
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., *Thurs., September 14,  2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Fri., September 29, 2023
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., +Fri., October 13, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Fri., October 27, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., +Fri., November 17, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Fri., December 1, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Fri., December 15, 2023 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Fri., January 12, 2024
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Fri., January 26, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., ++ Fri., February 9, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Fri., February 23, 2024 
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Fri., March 8, 2024 (Final Presentations)
• 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., *++Fri., March 15, 2024 (Graduation)  

Senior Leaders Institute (SLI) Class Schedule 

September – December 2023

++ In-person sessions; contingent on accommodation, weather, and low COVID infection rates. In-person sessions are hosted at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. 

SLI Cohort 13

• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, September 15
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, September 22
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday, September 29
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, October 6
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, October 13
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday, October 27
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, November 3
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, November 17
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday, December 1
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ++ Friday, December 8

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).

1. Choose a program. Review the Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) and Senior Leadership Institute (SLI) program details, applicant qualifications, and course schedule to determine which leadership path is right for you. 
2. 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.
3. 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.)
   ELI applicants must provide a signed letter of support from their supervisor and signed letter of approval from their Human Resources director. 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).
4. 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 2023. 

Applications will ask you to describe your current job role and will pose six questions about leading as a state servant. 

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.

Launching 2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) and Senior Leadership Institute (SLI) Applications 

Enterprise Talent Development (ETD) is excited to share an updated and streamlined application process organized by five easy-to-follow phases. Training, HR, and Leadership teams that are reviewing applicant submissions should use this guide as support through the application process.

This year, each application will be in an accessible PDF format. Your agency has control over your application process and how you distribute the applications.

Phase One: Getting Connected 

Join the ELI and SLI Applications Teams Channel to stay connected with ETD and manage your agency’s applicant data. 

Complete this access request form to ensure everyone on your agency’s application review/applicant support teams is a member of the 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 retain access, who should be removed, and who needs to be added. If you do not have any access changes from last year, you do not need to complete the access request form.

Phase Two: Setting Your Agency’s Application Deadline 

Applications are officially open to the enterprise as of May 1, 2023. Your agency’s approved applications must be submitted to the Application Teams Channel by 4:30 p.m., June 14, 2023. 

Set an application deadline for your agency that allows enough time for applicants and application review teams to do their work thoughtfully. Contact ETD before June 14 via email or the Application Teams Channel when you’ve completed your internal process. Your agency’s application deadline must be before June 14. ETD will not accept new applications after June 14. 

ETD recommends an application deadline of June 1 for each agency. This allows about four weeks for applicants to respond to prompts and request recommendation letters, and about two weeks for approval committees to review submissions.

Phase Three: Informing and Supporting Applicants 

1. Share the application form. 

This year, each application will be in an accessible PDF format. ETD has provided fillable PDF applications to each agency’s Human Resources and Learning and Development departments. The prompts on this PDF cannot be altered. Agencies are allowed to request additional information from applicants separate from the PDF application (such as proof of annual training completion or work examples.) 

•  Links to application forms: 
  • 2023 – 2024 Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) Application
  • 2023 Senior Leadership Institute (SLI) Application

2. Encourage applications. 

• 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 for 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. 
• Use these tips to motivate applicants!

3. Provide program details.

Program details for the Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) and Senior Leadership Institute (SLI) can be found in ETD's course catalog. Share this webpage with your teams! 

• Program schedules 
  • ELI Cohort 31 will meet every other Tuesday, and will be virtual or ½ virtual and ½ in-person based on majority preference, September 2023 – March 2024
  • ELI Cohort 32 will meet every other Wednesday with a few exceptions, and will be ½ virtual and ½ in-person, September 2023 – March 2024
  • ELI Cohort 33 will meet every other Friday with a few exceptions, and most sessions will be virtual, September 2023 – March 2024
  • SLI Cohort 13 will meet every Friday, September 2023 – December 2023
• Program costs
  • ELI: $3,740 
  • SLI: $4,070

Remind applicants that they must follow your agency’s procedure for encumbering funds for FY24. Most applicants should be able to ask their supervisors for assistance.

4. Highlight your agency’s application deadline. 

• Ensure applicants (and application review teams!) are aware of your agency’s application deadline. Reminder: you set your agency’s application deadline (See Phase Two above.) Your agency’s application deadline must be before June 14.
• Work with your communication teams to send reminders as you approach your agency’s application deadline.

Phase Four: 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 Five: Submitting Approved Applications 

After completing your review process, save approved applicant files to your agency’s private folder within the ELI and SLI Applicant Teams Channel. 

1. 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
2. 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.
• Write it down. Do your part in the application process by writing a letter of recommendation – especially if you are in a supervisory or senior leadership role.  
• 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!