The Presidents Leadership Class (PLC), a nationally recognized program, is owned and operated by Presidents Leadership Institute an independent nonprofit organization, in partnership with the University of Colorado at Boulder.

PLC has been in existence for over 35 years. Founded in 1972, the Presidents Leadership Class began with a conversation between William Douglas, Dean of Admissions, and Terry Heineman, Assistant Director of Admissions. Mr. Douglas and Mr. Heineman thought that it would be worthwhile to initiate a leadership program at CU-Boulder as a strategy to recruit some of Colorado's top students to attend the university and provide leadership in the state of Colorado. Both men felt it important to involve a number of outstanding leaders in the state to lend additional credibility to the concept of a leadership program. This led them to William Coors, President of Adolph Coors Company. The three men then moved forward with the development of the Presidents Leadership Class, named in honor of the university president and the corporate presidents and executives involved in the program's formation.

The first Board of Directors included: William Coors, President of the Adolph Coors Company; Emmett Heitler, Executive Vice President of Samsonite Corporation; Theodore Brown, President of First National Bank of Denver; Frank Raggio, Martin-Marietta Executive; Al Flanagan, President of Channel 9 and later President of Gannett Broadcasting; and William Douglas, Dean of Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid at CU-Boulder.

PLC is unique because it is based at the University of Colorado but managed by the Presidents Leadership Institute, an independent, nonprofit with a governing board of directors. Even though PLC offers courses and works very closely with CU, it is largely funded and directed by outside community members. Many individuals work together to make this opportunity available to students each year. Through the support of an extensive network of over 35 years of alumni, along with parents, business/community leaders, and very involved board members, PLC continues to grow and develop.