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Clifton Builders Program

Clifton Builders Program

Major and Minor Meet Our Builders

Clifton Builders Program

BUILD BUSINESSES, TEAMS AND COMMUNITIES

The Clifton Builders Program is designed to identify and develop students with high leadership and entrepreneurial potential. These students aspire to change the world by building new businesses, building teams or building communities through leadership and involvement.


Each year, Builders are selected and begin cohort classes the following Fall semester.
Applications for the Fall 2026 will open in August 2025.

How We're Different

LEARN BY DOING

28ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED ENGAGEMENT CONSULTING FROM BUILDERS

160+IDEAS PITCHED IN PITCH COMPETITIONS

97BUILDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD CURRENTLY IN PROGRAM

Supporting Entrepreneurial Minds Through Strengths-Based Development

Who is a Builder?

Who is a Builder?

Selected for their high leadership and entrepreneurial potential, Clifton Builders are challenged to create, disrupt and manage effectively. A builder is someone who doesn’t believe in restrictions. They enter into new situations with the question in mind, “What could be better?” Builders are natural change makers and are willing to take on challenges when others might back away. They were born with a natural inclination to create something where nothing existed before.

Program Requirements Meet Our Builders

Hands-On Learning

Clifton Builders learn how to build successful businesses, teams and communities through several hands-on learning opportunities. Builders put ideas to action right away through events like the Builders Marketplace where students develop and sell products or obstacle courses around town to engage with entrepreneurs in a competitive environment.

Hands-On Learning
Workplace Engagement Consulting

Workplace Engagement Consulting

Builders are trained in management practices to lead high performance teams. Local startups look to the builders to conduct Gallup’s Q12 workplace engagement survey to improve business outcomes and employee engagement in the workplace. Students create action plans with business owners to discuss methods for enhancing their workplace culture.

Program Benefits and Curriculum

Program Benefits

Builders do education differently. Students in the program experience hands-on, actionable projects. With access to exclusive professional development training, Clifton Builders develop an advanced understanding of management. Builders get to work with local business and organizational leadership to create actionable goals to improve their workplace culture. As the only program of its kind, Clifton Builders develop a distinctive skill set that employers are looking for and investors will respect.

You'll also receive the benefits of:

Cohort Community
Upon selection, you'll join a cohort in which you will take classes and participate in a variety of events together. The cohorts provide a close-knit community to create partnerships both in school and in business.

Coaching
You'll be assigned a Gallup certified strengths coach to learn how to develop and apply your strengths for success in your academic, career and personal aspirations.

Mentorship
Connect with other entrepreneurs and mentors in your areas of interest to further develop the knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing your passions.

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Clifton Builders Management Major

With a major exclusively for Clifton Builders, students gain a refined confidence, tools to help develop their personal strengths and the leadership skills to create and impact the growth and success of organizations. Coursework provides hands-on learning experiences and training in managing high performance teams and building engaged workplaces. Students can pursue interests in entrepreneurship, team building or community development.

Required courses (12 hours):
MNGT 324B - Building a Life for Impact
MNGT 360B - Organizational Behavior
MNGT 361 - Human Resource Management
ENTR 321B - Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Organizations
BSAD 76 - Clifton Builders Practicum Experience

Business Builder Track (12 hours):
ENTR 421 - Identifying and Exploring Entrepreneurial Opportunities
ENTR 422 - Managing Rapid Growth and Change in Organizations
ENTR 423 - Business Plan Development and Decision Making

Select one from the following:
ENTR 322 - Family Business
ENTR 425 - Franchising
MNGT 464 - Talent Acquisition and Staffing

Community and Team Builder Tracks (12 hours):
Select four from the following:
MNGT 365 - Managing Diversity in Organizations
MNGT 411 - Philanthropy and Leadership
MNGT 412 - Negotiating and Conflict Management
MNGT 413 - Building Ethical and Socially Sustainable Organizations
MNGT 414 - Leadership in a Global Context
MNGT 451 - Strengths Coaching, Theory and Practice
MNGT 464 - Talent Acquisition and Staffing
MNGT 466 - The Regulatory Environment for Employment and Labor
MNGT 470 - Leadership, Communication and Teams in the Virtual World

Four Year Plan

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Clifton Builders Management Minor

Builders with a non-management major will declare a minor in Clifton Builders Management. This allows for flexibility of courses and interest areas while still providing the opportunity to develop the distinctive skill set that only Clifton Builders receive. Students receive training in managing high performance teams and building engaging workplaces as well business development and innovation.

Required courses (9 hours):
MNGT 324B - Building a Life for Impact
MNGT 360B - Organizational Behavior
ENTR 321B - Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Organizations
BSAD 76 - Clifton Builders Practicum Experience

Select one from the following tracks (3 hours):

Business Builder Track
ENTR 421 - Identifying and Exploring Entrepreneurial Opportunities
ENTR 422 - Managing Rapid Growth and Change in Organizations
ENTR 423 - Business Plan Development and Decision Making
ENTR 425 - Franchising

Community Builder Track
ENTR 322 - Family Business
MNGT 411 - Philanthropy and Leadership
MNGT 413 - Building Ethical and Socially Sustainable Organizations
MNGT 451 - Strengths Coaching, Theory and Practice

Team Builder Track
ENTR 322 - Family Business
MNGT 365 - Managing Diversity in Organizations
MNGT 411 - Philanthropy and Leadership
MNGT 412 - Negotiating and Conflict Management
MNGT 451 - Strengths Coaching, Theory and Practice

Course Catalog

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Choosing Your Track

There are three academic tracks, and each builder selects one based on personal interest. Each track provides elite real-world experience through experiential components.

Business Builder Track
Students with entrepreneurial energy to create a successful business. Experiences gained in this track can include starting your own business, learning to effectively pitch your business idea or consulting with local startups.

Team Builder Track
Students with a passion to lead teams that can energize and transform organizations. Gain distinctive skills in this track by serving as a student strengths coach or interning with Gallup to learn about effective management techniques.

Community Builder Track
Students with a passion for making the world a better place by building communities. Learn host to foster through working with local nonprofits or within a government agency.

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Meet Our Builders

Upon selection, Clifton Builders join a cohort in which they take classes and participate in a variety of events together. These opportunities foster strong relationships within each cohort, and they may include networking events, activities within the College of Business, business-related field trips, social events and more.

View Cohorts

CONTACT

Clifton Strengths Institute
cliftonstrengths@unl.edu
HLH 115
P.O. Box 880405
Lincoln, NE 68588-0405
402-472-2035