History
The LEAD21 program was established to address the needs of future leaders in the 21st Century within the land-grant system in 2004. Prior to LEAD21, the Experiment Station Committee on Policy (ESCOP) and Academic Committee on Policy (ACOP) of APLU had a program (ESCOP/ACOP) for over 15 years.
With the increase in leadership, individuals within the land-grant system recognized the need to bring all parts of the system together to establish LEAD21 which would include the remaining Committees on Policy as well as organizations and strategic partners such as the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The LEAD21 Board of Directors represent the various Committees on Policy of the Associations of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and our strategic partners.
The University of Georgia provides the oversight and management of the program as they are contracted by APLU.
Morrill Act Created Land Grant System
A land-grant university (also called land-grant college or land-grant institution) is an institution of higher education in the United States designated by a state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890.
Source: Wikipedia