2009-2011 - Benedict College

44 STUDENT SERVICES
SERVICE-LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Service-Learning and Leadership Development is designed to enhance students’ collegiate experiences
by bridging their academic, personal, professional, and cultural development to cultivate an
ethic of leadership and citizenship through curricular and co-curricular activities. Through academic
study of leadership, developmental programs, and service-learning, students develop a sense of personal
responsibility for finding solutions to the concerns of society. The unit works cohesively to effectuate
the theme of success through personal accountability, commitment to excellence, effort, tiger
pride and community engagement.
The units in the Service-Learning and Leadership Development Program are:
• New Student Orientation Program
• Leadership Development Seminars
• Leadership Development Institute
• Service-Learning Program
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION PROGRAM
The Benedict College New Student Orientation Program provides new freshman and transfer students
with a comprehensive introduction to Benedict College that includes activities held at the beginning of
each semester designed to prepare them for their collegiate experience.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS
The Leadership Development Seminars are required general education courses that provide an academic
context for students’ leadership skills by enriching their intellectual, professional, and cultural
development. As a co-curricular component of the leadership development seminar courses, the LEAD
Series (Leadership Enrichment and Academic Development Series) is provided to expand course
objectives to enrich learning beyond the classroom environment and address issues relevant to the
students’ development.
THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
The Leadership Development institute is a program designed to provide Benedict College’s aspiring
leaders with an opportunity to develop key teambuilding and leadership skills through interactive learning
experiences. The program seeks students with academic strength and a desire to lead. LDI training
sessions are open to all current student leaders and those who desire to be future leaders at
Benedict College. The sessions are designed to provide students with a foundation for furthering
and/or developing their potential as current/future leaders. Student leaders who participate in each of
the LDI Training Seminars will be eligible to serve as peer mentors for the New Student Orientation
Program, ambassadors for college programs, and participate in conferences and events both on and
off campus.
SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM
Benedict College is committed to using its faculty, students and administrative resources to provide
service to improve conditions in the African-American community. Consistent with this emphasis,
Benedict College students are required to engage in service-learning activities designed to affect
change and build leadership through academic-based opportunities that enhance students’ intellectual
growth, civic responsibility, and career exploration. The goals of the program are as follows:
1. To address societal issues by engaging students and faculty in experiential learning activities that
impact both cognitive and affective dimensions of academic growth and development.
2. To empower students through academic-based opportunities.
3. To develop and maintain partnerships and relations with community constituents.
Students engage in service-learning via Leadership Development Seminar Courses and designated
departmental courses. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 120 hours for graduation,
with the exception of transfer students. Transfer students are required to complete the total number of
hours commensurate to their classification at the time of admittance.