The next application and selection process for the MILE Program will begin during the fall 2025 semester. Applications for the fifth cohort of the MILE Program (2026-2027) will open September 2, 2025, and will close October 24, 2025.
To be eligible to apply, a student must be a full-time (enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours), on-campus undergraduate student in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University. Students must also be in good academic standing and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must also be a full-time student throughout the cohort’s timeframe, which concludes in May 2027.
Following the review of applications, students who advance to the next round of the selection process will be invited to participate in in-person interviews with the MILE Advisory Committee in early November 2025. The selection of the next 14-student MILE cohort will be announced in mid-November 2025.
The fifth cohort of the MILE Program will begin their MILE experience during the 2026 spring semester and will graduate from the program at the end of the 2027 spring semester.
The MILE Program provides unique leadership and professional development experiences during a three-semester cohort, which is up of 14 selected students that represent each Davis College undergraduate academic department. Students enroll in a MILE course each semester of the cohort and receive a leadership certificate upon completion of the MILE Program.
MILE curriculum is delivered through experiential learning opportunities that include on- and off-campus workshops and tours. These experiences give participants exposure to the diverse issues affecting agriculture and public policy. Each cohort will travel to Austin to meet with state policy makers when the Texas Legislature is in session. Every MILE cohort will also spend a week in Washington, D.C. meeting with government agencies and industry representatives.
A student eligible for the MILE Program must be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in good academic standing. MILE students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their three-semester participation in the program.
MILE participants will enroll in three academic courses focused on the personal, service, and community aspects of leadership. Students will also complete a professional internship. The MILE experience will include both on- and off-campus workshops and tours on the plains of Texas as well as travel to Austin and Washington, D.C. to meet with government representatives about agriculture and public policy. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a leadership certificate to accompany their professional portfolio.
Individual Leadership in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Provide students with a better understanding of agricultural sciences and natural resources individual leadership through applied workshops, personality tests, leadership literature, professional development activities, networking opportunities, hands-on agriculture tours, and team building activities.
Service Leadership in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Enhance students’ leadership skills through learning and experiencing agricultural sciences and natural resources service leadership development.
Community Leadership in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Provide students with experience and knowledge in the importance of leadership development in individual organizations and within communities.