Ithaca College

Leadership education has become a necessary piece of higher education.  "In the past, companies could be counted on to develop leaders by ushering bright employees into management-training programs. Today such programs are few and far between. Colleges and universities must do the job," according to Richard Greenwald for The Chronicle of Higher Education (Read the full article at http://chronicle.com/article/Todays-Students-Need/125604/).

The Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs at Ithaca College provides a variety of leadership development, civic engagement, and diverse programming opportunities for students.  More specifically, OSEMA coordinates the Student Leadership Institute, which is a series of workshops, sessions and programs focused on building self-awareness, problem solving, and cross-cultural skills.  Participation in the Institute is required for several scholarship programs and academic majors, and is open to all IC students.  In fact, over 900 IC students participated in the Institute during the 2010-2011 academic year.  In addition, these sessions are at no extra cost to the student.

Faculty members at IC have integrated the Student Leadership Institute with their courses in a variety of ways.  Some include sessions as a requirement for the course, while others offer sessions as extra credit opportunities.  There are also opportunities for professors to enhance their presentation skills by facilitating a workshop for the Student Leadership Institute.

For more information about the Student Leadership Institute and how it can be utilized in your classes or professional development, contact program coordinator Jen Walsh at jwalsh@ithaca.edu.