L.E.A.P. FAQ
What is L.E.A.P.?
How can I achieve L.E.A.P. certification?
How many points do I need to earn to achieve certification?
Can I count things I have already completed before I officially sign up?
Should I include work completed as a part of my academic coursework?
Should I count a single activity in more than one category?
How do I sign-up and start tracking my points?
Can I use this site for any other purpose?
How will the final portfolio review/interview be scheduled?
Could I invite individuals to visit my site to see what I have completed?
What’s in it for me?
Where do I go for help or questions?
What is L.E.A.P.?
L.E.A.P. is a certification program sponsored by the Georgia Southern University Public Relations Advisory Board available for public relations majors at Georgia Southern. Focusing on four key components, the acronym L.E.A.P. stands for Leadership, Experience in Communication, Academics, and Professionalism.
How can I achieve L.E.A.P. certification?
Students can achieve certification through earning points in each of these four areas. Students have the opportunity to earn points through various activities above and beyond their coursework in addition to activities related to upper level classes. These activities include things such as attending workshops, networking, shadowing PR professionals, attending conferences, and serving in communication positions for clients. The complete L.E.A.P. Checklist is available for students.
How many points do I need to earn to achieve certification?
Certification can be achieved by any Georgia Southern public relations major with documented achievement of having earned 60 points, with at least 10 points earned in each category from the L.E.A.P. Checklist. Final portfolio review/ interview (0-10 points available) will also be required.
Can I count things I have already completed before I officially sign up?
Yes. You can include an activity which you completed within one year of officially signing up for L.E.A.P. See the L.E.A.P. checklist regarding the various activities for each category.
Should I include work completed as a part of my academic coursework?
The general answer to this question is “probably not.” Though there are a few items on the L.E.A.P. Checklist that specify activities completed as part of your coursework as acceptable to include, most activities must be completed above and beyond coursework. Unless specifically stated as acceptable work in the L.E.A.P. Checklist, work completed for classes taken earning credit towards degree completion (including internships for academic credit) should not be recorded as points earned by a student seeking L.E.A.P. Certification. Also, there is a maximum of 10 points earned in relationship to “in class” activities.
Should I count a single activity in more than one category?
All L.E.A.P. activities are to be documented individually. If an activity is included as achieving points in one area, that same activity should not be included as achieving points in any other area. The University’s policies regarding Academic (Dis)Honesty apply to all aspects of the L.E.A.P. Certification process. Students found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct will be reported and face penalties associated with their actions that may include penalties enforced by the University and expulsion from the L.E.A.P. Certification Program.
How do I sign-up and start tracking my points?
Any public relations major interested in signing up to earn the L.E.A.P. Certification should complete the L.E.A.P. Registration Form. Using WordPress, students will create an online portfolio to track their L.E.A.P. progress. The portfolio should have pages for each of the components (Leadership, Experience in Communication, Academics, and Professionalism). On these pages students will blog about each individual activity completed and state how many credit points they earned for that activity.*
For example:
| Leadership |
| On September 17, 2009, I attended the Mocktail Reception to kickoff the new L.E.A.P. Certification Program at Georgia Southern. At the event, I had the opportunity to network with PR professionals and celebrate the beginning of this new program. (“Networking,” 1 point) |
| Experience in Communication |
| I wrote an article that appeared in the Oct. 5, 2012, PRSSA newsletter Eagle PRide. The article I wrote, “Shadow Day on the Horizon,” discussed the upcoming Shadow Day opportunities for PRSSA members. (2 points) |
| *When including anything written, student must provide a link on the blog to a PDF version of the story/newsletter, etc. |
Can I use this site for any other purpose?
Only professional content should be included on this site and there should be a separate page for Georgia Southern L.E.A.P. material. Note that anything posted on this site will be subject to review and the Student Code of Conduct.
How will the final portfolio review/interview be scheduled?
When a student has achieved 50 points toward completion of the points required for certification, the appropriate steps will be taken to schedule the final portfolio review/interview by the PR faculty.
Could I invite individuals to visit my site to see what I have completed?
Yes, this blog portfolio is a wonderful opportunity for networking with other professionals.
What’s in it for me?
Students who complete the L.E.A.P. certification program will receive recognition of this accomplishment on their resume, a post-graduation interview with a Georgia Southern Public Relations Advisory Board member and a certificate.
Where do I go for help or questions?
While working toward L.E.A.P. certification, if you have questions, contact one of the Public Relations faculty members.
Last updated: 1/15/2019
