1. “If you had any advice for a student…”
Service leadership: the first-year student experience Connor Curtis Human Development and Family Studies; Leadership Studies and English
Putting a roof over their head
Sophomore Year
Classrooms Without Borders
Participate in alternative spring break service trip to Birmingham, Alabama
Took a course about race, class, and poverty in the United States, as well as engaged in discussions about how to solve social issues
Worked with a diverse group of students as well as community members
If you’re wondering how I got here...
Freshman Year
The Leadership Studies minor
Learned strengths and values
Applied leadership theories and models to real-life situations
Discuss self-leadership and group development
Become a part of a cohort of other students
Leadership Institute, 2014
Classroom Without Borders, 2016
Rubber chickens, beach balls, and bandanas, oh my!
Junior Year
Student Organization Leadership Consultants and Northwoods Challenge Course
Experiential education
Hands-on learning, reflection, application
Outdoor education
Learned how to teach others through experiential education .
Now what?
Senior Year
Honors Project
Alternative introductory course for first-year Leadership Studies minor students
Service leadership based – engage in service projects weekly
Experiential education – understanding how service complements group dynamic, individual leadership, and social justice
Use readings and class time to understand how systems of oppression create social inequality
Leadership Studies minor alum, 2018
Student Organization Leadership Consultants, 2017
The missing puzzle piece
The Leadership Studies minor is grounded in theories of leadership including building relationships, being a social change agent, and serving with leadership. Creating a servant leadership alternative course to the introductory first-year leadership course would address the following issues:
Attrition rate of students from the Leadership Studies minor
Tangible application of servant leadership, a cornerstone of the Leadership Studies minor
Overall engagement to the larger community, while serving their needs.
The Rhode Island Community
Engaging with local non-profits and service organizations helped to identify the needs of the Rhode Island population, as well as groups that are typically underserved.
Who to serve:
People of color
Children
Those below the poverty line
Differently-abled people (mental illness, developmental delays, addiction)
Students
Women and mothers
Immigrants/Refugees
The needs of students
In a survey of 102 students in the Leadership Studies minor:
83% had participated in a service project throughout their time enrolled in the minor
67% of students wish the Leadership Studies minor offered more service opportunities
54% felt they learned better through experiential education (i.e. activities, reflection, informal learning, outdoor education)
72% did not feel confident in their knowledge about social justice issues or cultural competencies
81% had not actively discussed social justice issues within the past semester
Students also reported struggling to stay in the minor if they don’t get a seat in the initial introductory course, or feeling a sense of connectedness with other students in class
Meeting student needs
An alternative introductory course will create more space for students to begin the Leadership Studies minor
Through service, students will interact with a diverse range of their peers
The course will create more opportunities for getting started in service and cultivating a long-term passion
Experiential education with service allows space for crucial conversations, reflection, and application of material
Students will be learn and understand how social justice is tied to service
How college students can help
Fundraising
Social media campaigns
Mentoring younger children
Clerical work
Vote
Advocacy
Education
“If you had any advice for a student…”
“Get involved.”
“Get educated”
“Even small acts make a difference”,
“Remember the humanity behind who you serve”
“It’s the best thing you can do – you will always get more than you give”
Acknowledgements
Thank you Professor Robert Widell for your continued support and education as my sponsor
Thank you to the Center for Student Leadership Development for giving me the foundations of leadership and helping me find my passions