A collaborative conversation about student activities and college success.
This past September, I was recruited for combat duty by the Georgia Southern University Leadership Boot Camp. My job was to turn students into a well-oiled, combat-ready leadership machine. Ok, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but I was the keynote speaker and a break-out session presenter However, this blog entry is about what I saw the Georgia Southern people doing right and some ideas for you to use on your campus.
Students are on a steep learning curve as leaders. By creating a culture of student leadership on your campus, you will be playing an important part in student success! Their situations evolve rapidly throughout the year as they face new challenges and learn more about themselves, their leadership styles, and new leadership techniques. What do you do after the fall retreat to keep the learning curve going up? Here are five ideas you can use right away.
That’s the question I asked Dave Kelly, America’s Student Leadership Trainer. He’s been working with student leaders for 30 years – since the days he was a student leader himself. He keeps in touch and up to date by continuing to work with students clubs and organizations on college campuses and through his volunteer work with Kiwanis and their college branch, Circle K. Drawing on his relationship with thousands of students and student-led organizations across the country, here’s what he thinks are the three essential qualities of a good student leader.
Often when working with campus leadership groups advisors ask me to help instill a sense of responsibility and pride in their students during the keynote, conference or retreat. I’m beginning to understand more and more why I’m getting this request as I witness disturbing new trends among college students today. Here are three recent examples from the news:
Four hours with a dozen key campus leaders is a grand opportunity for all of us to roll up our sleeves. It was practically one-on-one time… The president and vice president of the student government association… the outgoing president and a presidential candidate for the Hillel Club (which provides social and educational programming focusing on Jewish holidays, scholarships and history)… and a few more officers and candidates rounded out the attendees. With an intimate group like this, we can really get to the core issues that their campus organizations are dealing with every day.
This is some of the ‘best of the best’ that I’ve learned over 20+ years working with student organizations. My top 3, 5, 7, or 10 lists cover everything from skyrocketing student involvement, to holding great meetings and everything else that involves student leadership. Ask your student leadership questions here!
