Leadership and Citizenship Programs

What is leadership? More specifically, how does one lead ethically? At Northland College students are pursuing these questions through the Center for Ethical Leadership. At a base level leadership is identifying problems, issues, or moments, and organizing others to implement resolutions, ideas, and concepts that effect change. Learning how to do this well and doing it ethically will take a lifetime to master. The Center for Ethical Leadership aims to take students through four specific levels of development. A number of faculty and staff members work with the Center for Ethical Leadership, bringing unique and varied experiences and knowledge to the table to serve students. At the completion of each level students receive certification and are recognized at the campus-wide honors day in the spring. In addition, students create a co-curricular transcript that includes wellness acknowledgment, recognition of service and stewardship as well as ethical leadership certifications. 

Level I

Students begin to understand leadership through examining who they are as individuals. Through understanding strengths, communication, basic conflict resolution, and personal mission statements, students will grow as leaders in a weekend retreat setting.

Level II

In identifying the skill set of a leader on campus and what he or she values in that person each student will have the chance to reflect on leadership in another person and a relationship can be created or deepened between the student and leader.

Level III

Students will begin or continue to learn through on-campus leadership opportunities. In workshops and seminars students will parse out attributes of a leader in their service to a group, organization, or club.

Level IV

In the final level of leadership development students will examine the close relationship between service and ethical leadership. In on and/or off-campus settings students will involve themselves in long-term and/or on-going projects with the assistance of a mentor.

"I greatly improved my leadership abilities through Level One of the Center for Ethical Leadership. When I was in middle school and high school I went to a lot of leadership conferences.  The small weekend workshop was the best, seriously.  I learned about conflict resolution and mission statements for the first time. I also learned some new icebreaker and leadership activities."  - Kaari Ashland '12

"My experience as a leader has really changed since I began my Northland education. Through student-led initiatives and other opportunities with Northland, I have seen the innumerable possibilities in leadership development. I've found that leadership is much more than getting things done—it's about the entire experience and keeping a positive working environment no matter what. Leadership is a needed skill when moving forward in any field of study—I'm just happy I found it so early on in my career!"  - Max Metz Northland '10

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2008 Student Tutors

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Center for Ethical Leadership Mission Statement

The overarching mission of the Center for Ethical Leadership is to create an environment and resources for students to understand the principles and practices of ethically guiding the work of others towards a common goal.