Discover UT

Committed to the skills, values and practices of effective leadership, the University invites all interested incoming undergraduate students to apply for an exciting leadership program: Discover UT! This highly interactive three-day, on-campus retreat serves as an entry point to leadership programs and opportunities at UT and is scheduled before Week of Welcome for the fall semester. Additionally, all students accepted in the program will be automatically registered for LED 200: Introduction to Leadership Studies for the Fall 2025 semester. This course opens the pathway for students to add a Minor in Leadership Studies.

As a result of attending the Discover UT Leadership Program, students will be able to:

• Describe their personal understanding of leadership and Spartan Ready®.
• Form new friendships and connections with other UT students. 
• Identify opportunities for involvement and leadership development on campus.

Discover UT 2025 Program Application - Opening January 8, 2025 

Incoming students can access the Discover UT program application for the Fall 2025 program online.

The application will ask interested students for a response of 250 words or less to the following questions:

• What Spartan Ready® competency are you most interested in learning more about/growing more proficient in?
• Please describe a time that you have faced a challenge as an emerging leader and how that has impacted your leadership style today.

A tentative application timeline will be released in January 2025.

There is a $150 non-refundable fee associated with those who are accepted into the program. Payment is due prior to attending the retreat. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available; applicants can request to be considered for a scholarship within their Discover UT program application.

Virtual Information Sessions

Throughout the Spring 2025 semester, our team will host virtual information sessions to provide incoming students and their parents and families with more context and insight to the program. Dates and times coming soon!

Program Schedule

(Please note the Discover UT Leadership Program is tentative and subject to change. The final schedule and any adjustments will be communicated with admitted participants.)

• Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025
  • 9:00 a.m.: Early Move-In for Discover UT Participants
    • Students will move into their rooms as assigned by the Office of Residence Life.
• Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025: Discover UT Retreat Day 1
  • 12 p.m.: Opening Kickoff (Light Refreshments Provided) - Parents and Families are welcome!
  • 1 p.m.: Discover UT Official Welcome
    • Parents and Families will be dismissed at 1:15 p.m. and given time to connect with their student before the program resumes. 
  • 1:45 p.m.: Mentor Reveal and Teambuilding Activities
  • 3:30 p.m.: Leadership Framing activity
  • 5 p.m.: Dinner Break
  • 7 p.m.: Late Night Event
• Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025: Discover UT Retreat Day 2
  • 8 a.m.: Breakfast
  • 9 a.m.: Day 2 Welcome; Morning session activities
  • 11:30 a.m.: Lunch
  • 1 p.m.: Volunteer Experience with Feeding Tampa Bay
  • 4 p.m.: Back on campus
  • 5 p.m.: Group dismissed for the evening
• Friday, Aug. 22, 2025: Discover UT Retreat Day 3
  • 8 a.m.: Breakfast
  • 9 a.m.: Off-Campus Adventure
  • 11:30 a.m.: Lunch
  • 12:30 p.m.: Afternoon session activities
  • 7 p.m.: Wrap Up and End of Retreat

Dress Code

Discover UT will incorporate both indoor and outdoor experiences. Participants should dress as if they are participating in outdoor activities or a summer camp. The program is hosted during August in Florida - it will be hot! Clothing suggestions are: T-shirts, shorts, cargo pants, sneakers/ joggers/tennis shoes, tank tops, etc. Students will be staying in their assigned residence hall for the program so they will have access to whatever clothing items they bring with them to move in. Below is a list of potential activities Discover UT participants may experience:

• Volunteer Service
• Campus Tours
• Escape Rooms
• Late-night Social Events

Contact Information

For more information on UT leadership programs and opportunities, please contact the Office of Career Services, Leadership and Competency Development located in the Southard Family Building, Room 117 at (813) 253-6236 or spartanleadership@ut.edu.