BBC Learning About Leadership Lunch Series

The “Learning About Leadership” lunch series is designed to promote and facilitate constructive dialogue and interaction between students, key university officials and community leaders. Students will gain a better understanding about how the university's organizational structure functions and how they as students can play a more effective role in influencing and/or formulating university policy. Likewise, the students will gain a better understanding of community needs and how they can play a role in serving their community. Simultaneously, students will help university officials and local community leaders gain a better understanding of the needs and concerns of today's students.

Why train our Leaders?

The interests of the university are better served when all students have the opportunity to participate in influencing policy and activities. In order to participate effectively in campus and community life, students need a better understanding of how their university administration works, how students can participate in the university's "governmental" process, and how students are ultimately responsible for their quality of campus life. FIU is not an isolated entity, but rather an integral part of the South Florida community. Student leaders must also be citizen leaders. Therefore, students will be challenged to consider their roles in affecting change in the larger community as well. This program will help train emerging student leaders on a broad range of policies pertaining to service and opportunities for involvement in formulating or influencing policies. This can be done by electing and/or appointing student representatives and by students assuming more effective leadership roles on campus and in the community.

What is the structure like?

“Learning About Leadership” is not a program that requires a great number of resources in order to be implemented. It primarily requires the time and commitment of those involved to be successful. The program consists of six (6) lunchtime discussion sessions featuring a different leadership topic and guest speaker. The topics of the program sessions are Introduction to Leadership, Leading with Integrity, Diversity, Self-Management, Working Effectively in Groups, and Civic Engagement. University officials and community leaders will serve as the guest speakers. The sessions will include lunch and the opportunity to dialogue, network, and share.

What are the expected results?

BBC “Learning About Leadership” Lunch Series will develop and/or improve skills in the following manner:

• Engage students in an active dialogue about current leadership trends and issues.
• Keep university administrators and community leaders in closer contact with students through constructive bilateral dialogue.
• Educate more students in the process of university structure and community involvement.
• Provide university officials and community leaders with a new reservoir of talent available for appointment to boards, commissions and other forms of service.
  Create a better understanding and greater respect between students and university and community leaders.
• Educate students about State of Florida and local community political-educational issues.
• Familiarize student leaders with Student Government Association.
• Develop a spirit of activism in participants.

Contact the BBC CLS office in WUC 256 for application and schedule.