Leadership

Definition

An experience in which a learner is responsible for influencing positive change within a group. Throughout the experience, a leader will engage in, and promote within others, competencies that may include clarified values, self-awareness, social and civic responsibility, effective communication, intentional collaboration, and adaptive thinking. Experiences may be academic or extracurricular, related to a formal position of academic relevance or involve engagement in an authentic community challenge.

Background

Leadership is more than simply holding a position, leading meetings, or being in charge. Leadership is an action, and K-State is committed to developing graduates who are equipped to answer the world's grand challenges. The National Association of Colleges and Employers identifies motivating and inspiring others, innovative thinking, and the leveraging of diverse resources, among others, as behaviors evident of competency in leadership. Visit the NACE webpage to learn more about career-readiness competencies.

The American Association of Colleges and Universities’ VALUE rubrics list ethical reasoning as an essential learning outcome. Characteristics of ethical reasoning include an understanding of one’s core beliefs, adaptive thinking, and understanding the social context of challenges.

By combining the guidance of these two bodies, leadership experiences at K-State will equip learners to face grand challenges with skill and compassion.

K-State Examples

• Employment as a LEAD 212 Class Leader
• Creating a training module as a committee chair in Student Governing Association
• Exercising social responsibility by organizing a group of peers from a psychology course to lead a mental health awareness campaign
• Advocating for a policy change in the Student Code of Conduct after collecting input from peers