Students begin formulating ideas for projects during the NEW Leadership summer institute. While some students come to the summer institute having already held office in student government or another established leadership position, many have served in campus or community organizations and aspire to leadership roles. After the institute, students submit individual action plans in which they summarize their current commitments and leadership strengths, leadership goals and leadership experiences they plan to undertake in the upcoming academic year. We encourage students to devise leadership projects and experiences that will build on their strengths and allow them to put their ideas of leadership and change into action.

Leadership experiences can involve taking on leadership roles in existing campus organizations or community groups, or developing new programs and events. Previous leadership experiences have included planning an International Women's Day conference, hosting a leadership breakfast for college women, and running for office in a statewide student organization. Leadership projects which come out of the summer institute also involve developing an event or organization that will last beyond the program year. Past projects include; an individual research project studying black women's participation in local and national politics, organizing an annual conference for local high school women on leadership, and a university based conference on diversity.