The mission of the Scholar Leader Community at Miami University is to establish a proactive, supportive community dedicated to enhancing leadership and scholarship among its members and the broader university community.
Scholar Leaders is an upper-class residential living-learning community (available to rising sophomores and above) involving a one-year residence in Elliott or Stoddard Halls– two of the most historic residence halls in the nation and right in the center of campus!
Endowments for each room provide a partial scholarship to those students selected to live in the community.
Each year, approximately 75 students are invited to join the Scholar Leader Community after a multi-stage application and selection process. Advised by staff in Miami's Wilks Leadership Institute and Office of Residence Life, the Scholar Leader Community encourages resident-guided programming, academic involvement, service learning projects, and the opportunity to explore leadership through intensive group engagement.
Applications for the 2026-27 year open Nov. 2, 2025 and will be due Feb. 8, 2026.
What is a Scholar Leader?
As a Scholar Leader, students create community by living in the heart of campus in historical residence halls Stoddard and Elliott. Through programming, biweekly community and cluster meetings, once a semester retreats, and EDL 290W (our educational leadership course), we get to know one another and connect with faculty and staff from around campus.
During the year, students have the opportunity to create lifelong friendships and provide a lasting community impact. Scholar Leaders also conduct a minimum of five community service per semester through fun events hosted by fellow Scholar Leaders or in the greater Oxford community. These hours are not only easy to complete, but are full of good memories and positively shape the Miami community and beyond!
In addition, Scholar Leaders gain access to resources and opportunities on campus and in the town of Oxford. As a Scholar Leader, you will have the ability to make the program your own through small group work in your clusters: small groups that every Scholar Leader is in to do programming alongside your community members!
You can see some of what we have been up to this year and start engaging with us now through our Instagram, @MU_ScholarLeaders.
How can I become a Scholar Leader?
We’re so happy to see your interest in joining the Scholar Leader Living Learning Community (LLC)! Being a Scholar Leader is an incredible way to get involved in community, leadership, and service work on Miami’s campus and in the local community.
The application for the Scholar Leader LLC for the 2025-2026 academic year opens on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 and will be open through Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.
Application Process and Next Steps
Please carefully review the instructions below to know what steps you should take to apply for the Scholar Leader Program
First Year Applicants
First year applicants must submit the following materials to be considered for the Scholar Leader LLC:
Please describe why you would like to be part of the Scholar Leader program. How do you envision your involvement in Scholar Leader enhancing your Miami experience?
What does leadership mean to you? Describe a previous instance where you served as a leader in the past.
Tell us about an accomplishment you are most proud of and why.
Describe an academic or non-academic experience where you did not perform as well as you wanted. How did you approach the situation and what did you learn?
Next steps: After receiving your materials, our team will review all application materials and make a final determination regarding your acceptance into the program in mid-March. An interview is not required for first year program applicants. Candidates will be notified if they have been selected for the program in mid- to late March.
Second Year Cluster Advisor Applicants
Second year applicants must submit the following materials to be considered for the Scholar Leader LLC. Note that all returning Scholar Leader participants will be expected to serve as a Cluster Advisor.
Written responses to the following prompts (250-500 words each):
Why would you like to return to the Scholar Leader program for a second year? How do you envision your further involvement in this program enhancing your Miami experience?
As a returning Scholar Leader, you are expected to serve as a Cluster Advisor. What have you learned this year that has prepared you for this role?
Tell us about an accomplishment during your time in the Scholar Leader program you are proud of from this school year.
Next steps: After receiving your materials, our team will send invitations to select candidates to participate in a group interview in mid- to late February. The group interview process will take place on March 7, 2026. Candidates will be notified if they have been selected for the program in mid- to late March.
Want to Learn More Before Applying?
That’s totally alright! There’s a wide variety of ways you can learn more about the Scholar Leader experience.
Informational Sessions
This year, there will be a series of different informational sessions that will allow you to hear firsthand from current Scholar Leaders about the LLC and experiences thus far. Stay tuned on our Instagram, @MU_ScholarLeaders, for more information about informational sessions.
Flyers and Social Media
Check out the flyers and information sheets all throughout campus!
Keep up to date with fun events hosted by the current Scholar Leaders class via Instagram @MU_ScholarLeaders or checking website updates!
Harry T. Wilks Institute for Leadership and Service
