The Campus Ministry Leadership Institute is a five-day training and working institute for student leaders and campus ministers from across the country who attend together as campus teams. Now in its fourteenth year, the institute is designed to produce effective leaders who work collaboratively to develop and implement successful Catholic Campus Ministry programs on college campuses, both private and public.  

At CMLI, participants learn and practice valuable leadership skills with their teams, develop a project that is ready to implement at home, generate new ideas by networking with campus leaders from across the USA, and acquire a practical understanding of Catholic Campus Ministry based on the US Bishop's Pastoral Letter, Empowered by the Spirit.

The institute is open to any campus ministry program where a college campus minister and two to five students (upcoming sophomore through senior) register as a team.

Scholarships, for campus teams from mission diocese, are made available through a grant from the Catholic Extension Society. For more information contact Barbara H. McCrabb at bmccrabb@usccb.org or by phone at 202 541-3142.

CMLI will be offered twice in the summer of 2012.  The two sessions will have identical goals and schedules, so you can choose the date and location which works best for you.  Session 1 will take place June 6-10 at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA.  Session 2 will be held June 20-24 at the University of Missouri-Columbia (St. Thomas More Newman Center) in Columbia, Missouri.  The sessions begin with an opening liturgy on Wednesday afternoon and conclude with a banquet and dance on Saturday night; Sunday is left open as a travel day.

CMLI participants are invited into a deeper understanding of the purposes of Campus Ministry as it is outlined in the US Bishop's Pastoral Letter, Empowered by the Spirit.  Engaging and interactive presentations are offered to highlight various aspects and practical implications of this document. 

At CMLI, campus teams have concentrated time to plan a project that will improve the impact of their campus ministry program.  Prior to registering, each team prayerfully considers the needs of its campus and determines a program they wish to develop or refine.  Then, guided by the CMLI staff, they spend approximately 11 hours during the institute working to complete this task, utilizing a process which emphasizes the importance of the diverse gifts within the team.  Some examples of past successful projects include the planning of:

• new retreats
• community service programs
• scripture studies
• creative liturgical celebrations
• residence hall outreach

On the final day of the institute, each campus shares a presentation of their new project with other participants.  As a result, in addition to working on their own program, participants also take home valuable ideas from other campuses who present their work to the entire institute. 

Throughout the program ritual prayer experiences ground the institute in faith, provide models of prayer, and teach participants basic prayer leadership skills.  Along with small group discussions and faith sharing, these experiences create an element of retreat and renewal for all who attend.

Students and campus ministers are also able improve their leadership abilities through participation in team building activities designed to improve collaborative ministry skills.  A CMLI staff, consisting of experienced campus ministers working together with students, models the sort of collaborative leadership that the institute seeks to promote.

Accommodations and Facilities - Housing costs for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are included in the institute fee. There will be moderate walking between various buildings, and all buildings are handicapped accessible. Please be sure to notify us of your special needs before you arrive so we can make your experience an enjoyable one.

Meals -- Meals are also provided as part of your institute fees. They begin with dinner on Wednesday evening and conclude with breakfast on Sunday.  Continental breakfast will be served each day, but there are nearby options for those who like a hot breakfast, so bring money for this if you wish.

Travel - Participants should plan to arrive for registration between 2:00 and 3:30pm on Wednesday. The institute concludes on Saturday evening with a banquet and dance.  Sunday is free for travel.  Additional details about directions, parking, and transportation to and from the airport will be provided when you register. Requests for one night early arrival can be made on an individual basis when you register.

Cost - The cost for the institute is $275 per person. This includes all meals from dinner on Wednesday through dinner on Sunday. It also includes lodging for Wednesday nights through Sunday morning.  All participants are welcome to arrive early and stay on campus on Tuesday night if needed. This additional night is available at the cost of $30 per person.

Registration - Please follow this link to register for CMLI 2012: http://www.cvent.com/d/B26ZFmEAcUqHC55EgTurNg/qnq8/P1/1Q