Summaries from the Third Stakeholder Conference

Leadership

GCSU will be acknowledged as a national leader in educating students for leadership in their professions and communities. 

1.  Describe how this pillar builds upon existing institutional strengths and traditions.

• Would allow us to build on leadership opportunities that already exist such as:
  - GEM
  - Leadership Certificate Program
  - Ambassadors
  - Society for Leadership
  - Student involvement in national organizations
  - SGA
  - And others within major that are national and that students join
• Small, highly interactive, liberal arts environment
• Expectation of leadership makes a difference
•  Part of mission and GNIC tradition
• Abundant with role models (faculty, staff, alumni)
• Multiple opportunities to practice leadership:
  - Community and service learning
  - GEM
  - Residence Life
  - SGA
  - Leadership certificate
  - Career Center
   

• Interconnected curricular and co-curricular activities

2.  What would we do to nurture this pillar so that it would enhance the quality and depth of the students' total collegiate learning experience here?

• Funding to support student leaders' attendance at national conferences
• Form a leadership living/learning community
• Develop a roadmap for student leadership development
• Personal mission statement for all students
• Start early and develop in levels
• Expose students to various styles of leaders:  use Alums, CEOs, Donors           
• Explicit expectations for campus involvement-multiple opportunities
• Promote a conscious awareness of leadership characteristics (know a leader)
• Model leadership across campus

3.  What potential does this pillar have for bringing external recognition as an exemplary feature of the learning experience?

• Connecting nationally recognized leaders with our students brings recognition to the school beyond the region – examples:
  - Internships such as the Washington Center
  - Advisory boards that exist and can be expanded
  - Database opportunities
• Unique personal approach to leadership:  It is about PEOPLE
• Demonstrate impact of leadership (local, regional and global)
• Work forward and backwards – freshmen to alumni
• Tout the successes strategically, nationally, frequently – LEAD WITH STUDENTS
• Become a model for other institutions (COPLAC, AACU, etc)

Strategic Direction One
Exemplary Undergraduate Learning Experience

Continue to build excellence and distinction in the Georgia College undergraduate educational experience consistent with the university's educational values and its undergraduate public liberal arts mission.