Leadership & Involvement
Leadership programs
VP Students Emerging Leaders Program
| Connect | Engage | Lead |
|---|
Are you interested in connecting with the UBC and Vancouver communities? Do you want to get to know other UBC students? Are leadership, global citizenship, and skill development important to you?
Then, register for the Vice-President, Students Emerging Leaders Program, which begins each year in September.
It offered a good selection of components that made the program very concise and focused, and it was able to integrate into my schedule as it was not very time-consuming.
– first-year Sauder School of Business participant
If you are interested in participating in the Vice-President, Students Emerging Leaders Program but you missed Commencement, email the Student Development Office at shannon.sterling@ubc.ca with your name, faculty, and year of study.
What you'll take away
Participants in the Vice-President, Students Emerging Leaders Program will:
- gain opportunities to connect to the strong culture of student leadership and involvement on campus through participation in UBC student leadership traditions
- develop a personal leadership plan in consultation with a Pod Leader
- participate in personal and leadership skill development activities in preparation to assume leadership roles within the UBC community and beyond
- connect and network with other new students, current student leaders, and coordinators of leadership programs from the UBC and Vancouver communities
Program overview
Excellent leaders continually seek out opportunities to learn and develop new skills. The Emerging Leaders Program provides you with structured activities and leadership opportunities that will help you learn and develop skills.
You will be grouped in cohorts based on academics and experiences, and you will be given out-of-classroom opportunities that will complement your academic development.
The program reflects core leadership themes that are important to the development of your leadership and global citizenship skills. Within each of these themes, you'll be encouraged to take part in activities that align with your goals and interests.
In order to accommodate your busy schedule and your interest in developing leadership skills, we now offer a self-directed, self-selected Vice-President, Students Emerging Leaders Program. In this program, you will be able to use campus technology resources (VISTA) to choose degrees of personal involvement. This levelled approach affords you the opportunity to participate while maintaining a balance that works for you.
You will choose your program option after you have met with your Pod Leader to map out your leadership plan. Details of the program's opportunities will be outlined at Commencement on Friday, September 25, 2009.
The core leadership themes and the customizable program options within these themes are outlined in the table below.
| Blue (core components) | White (core components + 1) | Gold (core components + 2) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commencement | * | * | * |
| Conference | * | * | * |
| Speakers event or workshop | * | * | * |
| Campus involvement/ participation | * | * | * |
| Immersion | * | * | * |
| Faculty event | * | * | * |
| VISTA | * | * | * |
| Community service learning | * | * | |
| Capstone project | * |
The Reading Week Project and the Student Leadership Conference were the highlights of my experience with the program, and I'm considering participating in both components again next year.
– first-year Faculty of Arts participant
Pod Leaders
Emerging Leaders will have the opportunity to meet with Pod Leaders throughout the year – formally and informally. Our Pod Leaders demonstrate the depth of leadership across campus – MUG leaders, GALA group leaders, SCI Team members, AMS Club executives, Sustainability Ambassadors, REC staff, Residence Advisors, Wellness Peer Educators, and more.
Whether the Pod Leaders are involved in academics, student representation, event planning, community service, social justice, sustainability, or recreation, they'll provide you with the leadership insight you're looking for.
Commencement (required for all)
Our kick-off event is the first step in your UBC leadership experience. You will get a program overview, meet your cohort, identify some of your strengths and areas for growth as a leader, and begin to create a vision for your involvement on campus. You'll meet other Emerging Leaders and the Pod and Senior Leader teams, and participate in team-building activities.
Conference
Great leaders stay connected and current, and they are always learning. Attending conferences is a very effective way of connecting with people who share your interests while developing your skills and learning about current trends and best practices.
- Suggested: UBC Student Leadership Conference
- Alternates: Model United Nations, Think Again Conference, etc.
Speakers event or workshop
Connecting with leaders and experts in a variety of fields on campus and in the community will help you learn about leadership on a global scale. Each month, Emerging Leaders and Pod Leaders gather for skill development and learning opportunities.
By attending speaking engagements by well-known experts, you'll broaden your perspectives and gain an understanding of pressing global issues and their impact on global and local communities.
- Suggested: Terry Speaker Series; Emerging Leaders skill development workshops on topics like public speaking, time management, effective meetings, and more
- Alternates: International Week's keynote speaker, Vancouver Institute Speaker Series, Debate Society, Realities of Race workshops, International Week workshops, etc.
Campus involvement/participation
Leadership takes initiative. In this program, you'll have a variety of opportunities to volunteer, join a program, or even start your own program.
Whether you become involved with your undergraduate society, plan an event through your residence, or volunteer for the UBC Student Leadership Conference, you'll gain involvement experience.
- Suggested: Active participation in a club, involvement with student government, volunteering for International Week, etc.
Immersion
As an Emerging Leader, it is important to think about and understand a variety of "realities" that students across campus face. The immersion component is designed to provide you with an opportunity to gain an understanding of other UBC students' experiences.
Faculty event
Your faculty is your "home away from home." Getting to know the other students in your classes and engaging with the faculty and staff who are invested in your learning are crucial in helping you find your own UBC community.
- Suggested: Meet Your Prof/Dean events, faculty undergraduate society events, faculty career expos, etc.
- Alternates: Department open houses, Emerging Leaders faculty events, etc.
VISTA
Being an Emerging Leader will help you access exceptional resources. From about 70 leaders in the program to the staff from across campus, there are plenty of people who have answers to your questions. You can find everyone in our online course.
Our VISTA course houses the events calendar for the program, connects you to your Pod, hosts forums, and links you to leadership learning modules. Be sure to check in regularly to find out what's happening and to connect with your peers.
Community service learning
Through hands-on experience, learning, and reflection in the broader Vancouver community, you'll develop important service leadership skills.
- Suggested: Reading Week Community Service Learning Project, Go Global International Service Learning, etc.
- Alternate: Learning Exchange Trek Volunteer Program
Capstone project
With your Emerging Leaders Program experience, we hope that you will discover how your personal values and experiences are connected to the reasons for which and the ways in which you engage in the community.
This final project is designed to encourage you to reflect on the core program components (peer leader pairings, a conference, service learning, UBC leadership and personal skill, development, and attending a speaker series) and to apply the learning to a specific context. The possibilities for capstone projects are endless.
Emerging Leaders Wrap-up
Participants who complete all seven components in one academic year will be recognized at the Emerging Leaders Wrap-up. This event, hosted by the Vice-President, Students, is an important celebration of the accomplishments of your first year of leadership at UBC.
Students who complete all seven components will also receive a certificate recognizing them as graduates of the Vice-President, Students Emerging Leaders Program.
Contact us
Vice-President, Students Emerging Leaders Program
Office of Student Development
2303 Brock Hall
1874 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Tel: 604.822.0136
Fax: 604.822.8186
If you have suggestions or comments, please email sdo.leadership@ubc.ca.
