There are so many great ways to get involved on campus and to prepare for your future. To help students prepare even more, the Leadership Program, fully launching in fall 2015, will provide three levels of certificates for students centered on leadership development. When completing this program, you’ll be able to work with professional staff at Nazareth in order to relate your academics and extracurricular activities, no matter what major you are, to prepare for a successful future after Nazareth.
The Basics:
- Emerging Leader (Level 1) Requirements:
- Core Workshops – Attend the following workshops: Introduction to the Leadership Program & Leadership Concepts, Getting your Message Out There: Public Speaking, Appreciating Diversity, and Active Listening.
- Elective Workshops – Attend two elective workshops in addition to the required core workshops.
- Community Service – Participate in one existing community service activity (not including the Orientation Day of Service)
- Engaged Leader (Level 2) Requirements:
- Core Workshops – Attend the following workshops: Leadership Styles & Teambuilding, Group Dynamics, Strategic Planning, Diversity & Inclusion (Part I), and Conflict Management.
- Elective Workshops – Attend one elective workshop in addition to the required core workshops.
- Community Service – Participate in the MLK Day of Service, coordinating the event or serving as a site leader, or participate in an alternative spring break trip sponsored by a department on campus.
- Participation in a Group – Become an active member of a club, organization, team, or serve in a leadership role on campus that requires you to work with others.
- Established Leader (Level 3) Requirements:
- Core Workshops – Attend the following workshops: Introduction to Leadership Theories, Diversity & Inclusion (Part II), Leadership & Social Change, Continuing Your Leadership Development, and Co-Curricular Portfolio.
- Community Service – Participate in the MLK Day of Service, coordinating the event or serving as a site leader, or participate in an alternative spring break trip sponsored by a department on campus.
- Leadership Role – Serve in a leadership role on campus or in the community.
- Leadership Conference – Assist with the planning and implementation of the annual Leadership Conference as well as attend the event.
- Co-Curricular Portfolio – Create a Co-Curricular Portfolio, which must be reviewed through the Leadership Program or Career Services.
- Capstone Project/Presentation – Create and deliver a project or presentation outlining your leadership development and growth throughout your time at Nazareth. This will include how you will utilize the knowledge and skills gained in your post-graduate endeavors.
How on Earth Would Someone Have Time for This?
Seems like a lot? Sure it seems overwhelming but a lot of this is built into your daily life at Naz. Whether you’re a student-athlete, involved with community service or involved with a campus club, you can easily incorporate other parts of the certificate into your daily life. If you’re already planning to be involved, why not spend an extra few hours a semester to make you more marketable when applying to jobs and graduate schools?
If you dedicate an hour a week to your leadership development, you can earn a certificate in just one semester. If that’s not convincing enough, what if I told you that at the end of level three, you walk away with a co-curricular portfolio that you can present to potential employers and graduate schools. The portfolio forces you to analyze your leadership experiences and makes you very appealing when moving on to the next stages of life, like applying for jobs or graduate school.
My Experience:
As I am in the midst of my job search for after graduation, I am completing the co-curricular portfolio. I’ll be honest, I’ve spent a stressful few nights over the past few weeks getting job applications completed. After deciding to complete the portfolio, I feel 100% more prepared to be more marketable and a stronger candidate for the jobs that I’m applying to. So if the program isn’t launching until fall 2015, then why am I completing the portfolio? I’m completing it because based on my campus activities I’ve met all the requirements, minus some of the workshops since they haven’t all been offered yet. Some of these activities include:
- UA President, VP of Communications, and Residence Hall Council Senator for the Undergraduate Association
- Orientation Leader
- Attending the Annual Leadership Conference
- Participating in the MLK Day of Service
- Going on an alternative spring break trip
- Playing on the women’s golf team
- In-class service learning
I guess you could say that I’m a prime example in regard to putting in a few hours a week to develop my leadership skills, which has strongly prepared me for my future.
Sound like a lot of work that you’re not quite sure is worth it? Nicole will convince you in her post about the benefits of engaging in student leadership.