The Leadership Series

The Leadership Series | Schedule | Certification Requirements

Certification Requirements

The Leadership Series is a workshop series designed to develop both individual student leaders as well as to provide resources for growth and change for student organizations. The Leadership Series provides on-going training and support to students as they develop their leadership skills and gain insight into ethical decision-making. Once an individual completes The Leadership Series, they will have an increased awareness and understanding of the topics such as Communication, Leading with Vision, Social Justice, Setting Goals, Creating Inclusive Organizations and Communities, and Ethical Decision Making.

Workshops are held twice a month in the fall and spring semesters.

Levels of Certification

Certification can be achieved on both the individual and organizational level. The three degrees of certification are as follows:

Basic Certification - Individual		Basic Certification - Organizational
Advanced Certification - Individual		Advanced Certification - Organizational
Exemplary Certification - Individual		Exemplary Certification - Organizational

Individual Certification Requirements

Basic Certification is achieved when an individual attends at least three workshops. Individuals pursuing basic certification are encouraged to keep a journal or some form of documentation to reflect on the workshops including information and insights the individual gained from attending the workshops.

Advanced Certification is achieved when an individual attends at least four workshops. Individuals pursuing advanced certification are encouraged to keep a journal or some form of documentation to reflect on the workshops including information and insights the individual gained from attending the workshops. From these reflections, participants will create a project that represents what the individual has learned from each workshop. This project may take the form of an expressive, creative and artistic project. Projects can range from literature, art, music, videos, cartoon strips, journals, etc. Please focus on how to apply what you have learned into real life, school, sports, work, organizations etc.

Exemplary Certification is achieved when an individual attends all six workshops. Individuals pursuing exemplary certification are encouraged to keep a journal or some form of documentation to reflect on the workshops including information and insights the individual gained from attending the workshops. From these reflections, participants will create a project that represents what the individual has learned from each workshop. This project may take the form of an expressive, creative and artistic project. Projects can range from literature, art, music, videos, cartoon strips, journals, etc. Please focus on how to apply what you have learned into real life, school, sports, work, organizations etc.

Project Guidelines/Suggestions

Projects are required to achieve advanced and exemplary certification and are encouraged for basic certification. Participants will complete projects on their own time and can express what they have learned in a creative and artistic format that is most appealing to them. The important part is that the participant takes time to genuinely reflect on the workshop. Topics of reflection may include:

What was learned
Interesting insights
New perspectives gained
Ways to apply the material shared
Feelings about the speaker/activity
Insight into individual growth as a leader
Ways to improve personal leadership, interaction with others, etc.

Organizational Certification Requirements

Basic Certification is achieved when an organization sends a representative to attend at least three workshops. Organizations pursuing basic certification are required to submit evidence of how the attending representative was able to share materials from all three workshops with the rest of the organization's members.

Advanced Certification is achieved when an organization sends a representative to attend at least four workshops. Organizations pursuing advanced certification are required to submit evidence of how the attending representative was able to share materials from all four workshops with the rest of the organization's members.

Exemplary Certification is achieved when an organization sends a representative to attend all six workshops. Organizations pursuing exemplary certification are required to submit evidence of how the attending representative was able to share materials from all six workshops with the rest of the organization's members.

Organizational Sharing Guidelines/Suggestions

Organizations may determine the best way for attending representatives to share information obtained from The Leadership Series workshops with the rest of the organization's members. A few options include:

Detailed Minutes - This would include minutes from an organization's meeting that outline how the workshop information was shared/presented, who presented the material, duration of time for presentation, date presented, etc. In addition to these basic details a brief paragraph describing opinions, reactions, receptivity of the organization members to the material shared, as well as ways that the organization might be able to apply the information in the future.

Summary Report - This would include a summary of how the workshop information was shared/presented, who presented the material, duration of time for presentation, date presented, etc. In addition to these basic details a brief paragraph describing opinions, reactions, receptivity of the organization members to the material shared, as well as ways that the organization might be able to apply the information in the future.

Video – This would include information that tells the story about how the workshop information was shared/presented, who presented the material, duration of time for presentation, date presented, etc. In addition to these basic details the video could highlight opinions, reactions, receptivity of the organization members to the material shared, as well as ways that the organization might be able to apply the information in the future.

Reflection Journal and/or Member Feedback Cards - This would include basic information about how the workshop information was shared/presented, who presented the material, duration of time for presentation, date presented, etc. In addition to these basic details a reflection that explores workshop topics and take-a-ways as well as the opinions, reactions, receptivity of the organization members to the material shared could be included. Also the journal or feedback cards could outline ways that the organization might be able to apply the information in the future.

Supplemental Items:

The presenter is encouraged to create a handout or worksheet for members pertaining to the topics/information shared or a PowerPoint presentation to convey information. If the presenter chooses to do so, copies of the materials created/used should be submitted along with the organization's minutes, summary report, video, or journal/feedback cards.