Before the doors of the ILC opened in 2002, a committee of faculty, staff, and students were charged by then Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Pat Askew to create a set of guiding doctrine to inform and shape the practice of leadership at Illinois. This committee created the Illinois Philosophy of Leadership and 11 Skills & Attributes, which the ILC utilized to develop the center's curriculum and programs for over ten years. This same committee also worked to create and structure the initial plans for the ILC, which later included formally establishing an advisory committee, the Illinois Leadership Coordinating Committee, ILCC and later known as the Illinois Leadership Education Campus Collaborative (ILECC).

In 2014–2015, the ILC sought out to reimagine the doctrine that guided the ILC and the broader University’s practice of leadership education. In the fall of that year, four sessions of Campus Conversations on Leadership Education were held. Over 260 faculty, staff, and students participated in the task of identifying the skills, value, and attributes an Illinois graduates should demonstrate. Over 3,000 sticky notes were generated, which then provided themes for competencies and approaches to cultivate leadership on campus. What resulted was a white paper on “An Illinois Model of Leadership Education,” which includes four elements:

• philosophy of leadership,
• leadership learning and practice,
• leadership competencies, and
• a leadership assessment (The Illinois Leadership Inventory). 

The cornerstone of our work is based on the Illinois Philosophy of Leadership. 

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Leaders are individuals who work with others to create positive change.  Leadership can be practiced by anyone interested in contributing, regardless of formal authority or position. 

Leadership development begins with self-knowledge—understanding one’s passions, motivations, strengths, limits, and personal values.  Leaders are committed to continual self-discovery, reflection, and learning. 

Learning to work with others is essential, since leadership never happens alone. 

Leadership is exercised as members of teams, business, civic, and community organizations, and as global citizens.  Leaders recognize and value the multitude of voices, opinions, experiences, and identities in our workplaces and communities, and as leaders, we work to promote greater inclusivity and respect. 

At the University of Illinois, students learn and practice leadership in their academic coursework and out of classroom activities.