Students have an opportunity to hone their political skills through a new community leadership program sponsored by East Lansing.

The city is launching the East Lansing Emerging Leaders Program to give residents a 10-week crash course this fall on the city's governmental process.

The program, slated to run September through November, will cover the formats, processes and laws binding city government.

"A lot of people might want to become involved but feel they don't have the knowledge or experience, but we want to give them the opportunity," said Marie McKenna, executive assistant to the city manager.

In order to create a diverse, yet intimate, learning environment, the program will include about 20 community participants chosen through a comprehensive application process, McKenna said.

Any East Lansing resident over the age of 18 can apply to join the program. But people who are already serving or in the running for an elected position are not eligible. There is no cost to participate.

Students will be prime targets for the program's marketing campaign, which begins this month, McKenna said.

"We're absolutely hoping students will get involved," she said. "The goal is to have a very diverse group — to not only represent the diversity of the community, but also learn from each other."

The city will work with MSU Community-Student Liaison Rachelle Woodbury and other student services programs to promote Emerging Leaders among the student body, said Annette Irwin, operations administrator for East Lansing Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation.

More information on the program — including the application — should be available online this week at www.cityofeastlansing.com, Irwin said.

The program will run on a "limited" budget through the City Manager's Office, Irwin said.

She could not provide a general estimate Thursday, but added that the program will utilize city staff and buildings to help minimize costs.

According to the 2008 East Lansing budget proposal, about $434,000 is recommended to the city manager for implementation of policy and coordination of city resources, which includes training programs such as Emerging Leaders.

The East Lansing City Council showed its support for the program during its April 10 work session.

"There are a lot of people who hesitate to become involved because they don't know the process," Mayor Pro Tem Vic Loomis said.