Objective

The Leadership Pathways program is a year-long program from the Office of Student Leadership Development. Based on the Social Change Model of Leadership, our program is designed to allow students to engage in a variety of workshop and co-curricular experiences to enhance their leadership skills. Through one-on-one mentorship and intentional workshop, students will learn and utilize components of the social change model in their everyday learning. The goal of this program is to guide students through these experiences so that they can better grasp their function as change agents at individual, group, and societal levels.

Program Structure 

To better suit the interests and possible career goals of our students, we have created three certification tracks:

  • The Leadership Certification (Leadership Track)
  • Community Engagement Certification (Civic Engagement Track)
  • Greek Leadership Certification (Greek Leaders Track)

While there is potential for overlap between these three tracks, each area of study contains a strong emphasis on one or more personal and professional areas. 

Leadership Certification (Leadership Track)

The Leadership Certification track holds a strong emphasis on the study of leadership. Students in this track have demonstrated an interest in leadership development in a variety of personal and professional arenas such as research, business management, arts, etc. In this track, students will learn how their perceptions of leadership function at individual, group, and societal levels.

Requirements for this track include:

  • Mentorship – Students will meet one-on-one with their assigned Leadership Advisor to set short-term and long-term leadership goals.
  • Student Organization Involvement – Students will join and be active in at least one student organization or club on NEIU’s campus.
  • Workshops – Students will attend six approved leadership workshops, lectures or seminars:
    • Four Leadership Pathways workshops
    • One outside conference/retreat
    • One outside workshop, conference, or retreat in another university office or in the outside community.
  • Reflection – Students will complete an end-of-program reflection on his/her leadership journey. The student will be guided through this process by their Leadership Advisor.

Community  ENGAGEMENT CERTIFICATION (Civic Engagement Track)

The Community Engagement Certification track holds a strong emphasis on the study of how leadership functions in service and community. Students in this track have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in service and/or community organizing. In this track, students will explore how their perceptions of leadership function at individual, group and societal levels.

Requirements for this track include:

  • Mentorship – Students will meet one-on-one with their assigned Leadership Advisor to set short-term and long-term leadership goals.
  • Outside Organizational Involvement – Within six weeks of beginning the program, students will need to have identified, applied to, interviewed at and begun community engagement hours at a site of his/her choice.
  • Campus Involvement/Workshops – Students will have a choice of the following:
    • Attend two on-campus programs happening within the semester and write a brief 2-3 paragraph overview of the experience. A list of qualifying programs will be made available to students. 
    • Attend six approved leadership workshops, lectures or seminars. Four will be from the Leadership Pathways series, one will be an outside conference or retreat and one will be chosen from those available from other University offices and programs.

GREEK LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION (Greek Leaders Track)

The Greek Leaders track holds a strong emphasis on the study of leadership as it pertains to Greek life on campus (sorority, fraternity, co-ed fraternity, etc.). Students in this track have demonstrated an interest in refining their understanding of what it means to be a member of a Greek-lettered organization. Particularly, developing an understanding that Greek affiliation means that individuals are part of a greater whole and that living the values of your organization are essential to a positive Greek experience. This track has two tiers for varying experience levels and interests. They are:

  • Tier 1 - Emerging Greek Leaders (EGL): Beginning or newer members of the Greek Community
  • Tier 2 - Developing Greek Leaders (DGL): Seasoned members of the Greek Community, and/or members seeking leadership positions within their organization.

Requirements for this track include:

  • Mentorship – Students will meet one-on-one with their assigned Leadership Advisor to se short-term and long-term leadership goals.
  • Campus Involvement/Workshops – Students will attend four approved leadership workshops, lectures or seminars:
    • Two Greek Leaders workshops
    • One Leadership Pathways leadership workshop
    • One outside workshop, conference, or retreat in another university office or in the outside community (must be approved by Greek Advisor).
  • Reflection – Greek leaders will create a reflective project of their own design on one of two possible topics depending on their tier. These final projects may be in a variety of formats: presentation, paper, passive programming (poster, display, art piece, etc.). Other options may be considered with approval of the Greek Advisor. The tier and project prompts are:
    • Emerging Greek Leaders (EGL): What my letters mean to me…
    • Developing Greek Leaders (DGL): How I earn my letters everyday.

Application

The Leadership Pathways program is open to all enrolled NEIU students. We highly encourage first and second year students to participate. Participants can join at any time throughout the year as long as they fulfill the requirements.

For more information or to enroll email sld@neiu.edu.