EmpowerMe Leadership Workshop
Office of Student Life, College of Western Idaho
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Description
As the previous Student Life Coordinator at the College of Western Idaho, I was tasked with redeveloping a student leadership one-day workshop for the beginning of the new academic year. The objective was to "provide space for students and their advisors to hold internal and external dialogue while exploring purpose and realize potential." Students reviewed reasons for their being as campus leaders in connection to their identities and social and cultural awareness.
Welcoming a student to the EmpowerMe Workshop.
A member of the Board of Trustees presents to students.
EmpowerMe students discuss T.R.U.E. Leadership qualities with the Dean of Students.
Importance
Student development encompasses many aspects of self-discovery within intersecting and challenging spaces. As times and conditions are rapidly changing, a student's development must always be considered in our roles as student affairs professionals. There must always be a positive growth process that helps to consider experiences and influences. This includes examining what interpersonal and intrapersonal challenges there might be in college, what factors impact and lead to development and encourage growth, and what outcomes should we aim for? EmpowerMe seeks to incorporate these questions to ensure an overall positive and transformative learning opportunity.
Skills
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Curriculum Design
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Program Development
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Cross Campus Collaboration
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Leadership Facilitation
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Student Engagement
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Program Assessment
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Student Development Theory
Lessons Learned
Being able to re-develop and revamp the student leadership retreat to be more inclusive and supportive of leadership types created a more supportive way of implementing learning experiences and styles. Student leaders are encouraged to present themselves in "above average" standards as representatives of the institutions, student organizations and clubs and research efforts.
In creating this curriculum, it was challenging to incorporate inclusive activities with the mindfulness of physical abilities, psychological mental histories and physical traumas. In an effort to practice inclusion, EmpowerMe aimed to allow students to examine their own capacities to define beliefs, identities and their relationships with social settings and the people around them.
Yet, it was this opportunity that really ingrained the lens of inclusion to consistently ensure that all students, staff and faculty that I work with are involved. Additionally, I gained further insights into how student development can be impacted from experiences, as well as what kind of impact I can have on the student's learning experiences.
EmpowerMe Manuals