What’s Changing
Starting in academic year 2026–2027, students who apply to RLA must be enrolled in the Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement (MRLE) at the time of application. This change will not affect applicants in 2025–2026, but we’re giving students a clear heads-up now so they can plan ahead.
Why We’re Making This Change
The MRLE is designed to help students learn a process of intention setting, experimentation, and reflection in order to build their leadership skills in the contexts of their busy lives. In doing so, students also are required to complete many of Sanger’s flagship leadership experiences, such as Story Lab, Legacy Lab, and Leading Inclusive Teams. MRLE supports students in choosing their own path through Sanger’s programs and intentionally building their leadership skills along the way.
By the time students apply to RLA, they should be equipped with foundational leadership skills and mindsets and ready to go deeper. Enrolling in the MRLE before applying ensures that every RLA participant is coming in with shared language, a common base of experiences, and a clear commitment to their leadership growth. This ensures students are getting the most out of each stage of the experience.
What This Looks Like
To help students visualize how Sanger’s programs fit together, we’ve created a graphic that shows the progression from foundational skills to immersive experiences.
In this progression, Ross students start with foundational skills (Collaboration Lab). From there, Sanger offers flexible program engagement and leads toward selective opportunities like Ross Leaders Academy. The MRLE sits at the center, supporting integration and growth.
What This Means for Students
If you are a Ross student thinking about applying to RLA in the 2026–2027 academic year or beyond, make sure to enroll in the MRLE ahead of time.
For students applying to RLA in 2025–2026, this requirement won’t be in place yet—but we strongly encourage you to complete the MRLE so you’re ready and well-prepared.
Wondering where to start? This next visual breaks down the opportunities available to you, and how they connect to MRLE and RLA:
Use this visual to explore the programs that count toward the MRLE and how your leadership experience can build over time.
We know this is a new step, and we’re here to offer support. Whether you’re wondering which programs count toward the MRLE, how to enroll, or how this fits with your schedule, you can find us at a tabling event, attend our Info Sessions on September 9, or email us at rossleaders@umich.edu,
We’re excited about what this change will bring: stronger student development, deeper leadership learning, and a more connected experience from day one to graduation.