Emerging Leaders of Color
Emerging Leaders of Color (ELOC) is a free 8-month pathway program for underrepresented high school students, introducing them to:
- Business classes, faculty, and career options
- Professional development
- Networking with professionals from the Twin Cities corporate community
- Mentorship from a current Carlson School student
- College preparation activities*
*Participation in ELOC does not guarantee admission to the University of Minnesota
Program Details
Monthly on Saturdays from 9am-2pm
- September 16, 2023
- October 7, 2023
- November 4, 2023
- December 2, 2023
- January 27, 2024
- February 24, 2024
- March 23, 2024
- April 20, 2024
Students admitted to the program are expected to attend all monthly Saturday sessions.
- High school students who will be a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior during the upcoming academic year.
- A demonstrated interest to learn about business.
- A 3.0 GPA is preferred but not required (students with a GPA lower than 3.0 should have a demonstrated upward grade trend).
- This program is for self-identified indigenous students and students of color.
How to apply
The ELOC application process is completely online, please contact the program coordinator if you would like alternative accommodations. The online application includes:
- Applicant background and contact information
- An activities journal and up to 4 short essays
- Self-reported GPA
Admission to the program is determined by the strength of the overall applications. Items considered include: leadership activities, community engagement, short essays, GPA, and overall interest in the field of business.
Apply for the 2023-2024 cohort by June 9, 2023
Emerging Leaders of Color Program Growing
Among the Carlson School’s efforts toward a more equitable future in education is Emerging Leaders of Color, a unique opportunity for cohorts of high school students to experience and learn about business at the Carlson School.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Participation in ELOC does not guarantee admission to the University of Minnesota.
Students are encouraged to use public transportation or personal transportation to get to campus. Transportation reimbursement is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students are encouraged to reapply for admission every year they are eligible. For example, if a student participates as a sophomore, they are encouraged to apply to participate for their junior year and again for their senior year. Each year, students will have the opportunity to attend college preparation sessions designed specifically for their class standing (i.e. sophomore, junior, or senior).
Become an Emerging Leaders of Color program partner
The success of this program lies in the engagement from local businesses, business owners, and local professionals to provide a small amount of time and experience. Through keynote or workshop, you can open the door to future business careers for these students.
Some examples of past program partners:
U.S. Bank
Avocadish
Carmichael Lynch
Minnesota Business Venture
Questions or Accommodations?
If you have questions, please contact:
Jeff Williams
Coordinator for Diversity Pathway Initiatives & Community Partnerships
2022-2023 Cohort Profile
Learn more about ELOC
Download a PDF report to learn more about the ELOC program and its first two cohorts. See a full profile on where students are coming from in the Twin Cities metro, as well as grade, gender, and race/ethnicity breakdowns.