THE BIGHORN CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Overview
Public policy is only as good as the leaders who implement it. In short, creating good leaders is the goal of the Bighorn Center for Public Policy's Leadership Development Program. By identifying potential leaders and providing them with the necessary training and tools, the program strives to ensure that effective and practical leaders are available to Colorado over the long term. Now affiliated with the Colorado Institute of Public Policy at Colorado State University, the Bighorn Leadership Program continues to pursue this mission.

The Bighorn Leadership Development Program offers its participants an opportunity to get involved in the issues that Colorado faces. Through this hands-on experience, leadership fellows have the chance to hone their leadership skills, learn the ins and outs of policy, politics, and government, and consider how they can make a difference in their community. Many of the participants have gone on to play active roles in their communities.

Although the Bighorn Center is based in Denver, we believe that one way to really know and understand the issues and the people is to hold the leadership program in various communities around the state. Programs have been held in Durango, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Castle Rock, and Vail. At this time, participants have come from 23 counties representing large urban Front Range communities like Lakewood and Highlands Ranch to rural areas such as Ft. Morgan, Dolores, and Alamosa.

As successful as Bighorn's geographic based program is, innovation is a large part of who we are. Bighorn's current leadership program focuses on individual political leadership, as well as the policy development and politics of specific topics. In 2005, the Bighorn Leadership Program completed two issue-based programs in areas that are important to Colorado's future:  Health Care and Sustainable Development.  To view the policy proposals that emerged from these two groups as well as prior Bighorn groups, click on the curriculum tab. The next Bighorn Leadership Program will focus on Health Care and will begin in 2008. Please watch the Colorado Institute of Public Policy website at www.cipp.colostate.edu for more details on the topic and location. 

Program Design
The Bighorn Leadership Development Program takes place one weekend per month for either four or six months depending on the program. It is essential that participants fully commit to the program in its entirety. If a participant is not fulfilling his/her commitment, he/she is asked to resign.

Tuition
Tuition is a nominal $350 and there are scholarships available. Bighorn Fellows pay for their transportation. Meals and double-occupancy hotel accomodations are provided. The Bighorn Leadership Development Program expects the fellows to serve their communities by engaging in the policy making and political processes.

Class Size
The number of fellows per class ranges from 22 to 35. Bighorn strives for geographic, political, and individual diversity.  Fellows are selected by a committee of residents from that particular region for geographic based programs or a committee of experts.