objectives

Educational Opportunity Program // Empowering Today’s Young Leaders // Freshman Program
 * RIDER UNIVERSITY **


 * __ Learning Objectives __**

The overall learning objective of //Empowering Today’s Young Leaders// is to improve freshmen students’ leadership and collaboration skills, which are necessary for successful completion of their degree programs. “As students make the transition from high school to colleges and universities, the first year is particularly important to their success. Their early experiences can set the tone for what students expect, how much they get involved, and what they experience” (Pascarella and Terenzini, 1992). As a result of this freshman EOP //Empowering Today’s Young Leaders// program, participants will gain these intended program objectives:

1. Prepare clear messages: knowing what to say and how to say it effectively

2. Recognize their ability to be open-minded to other’s viewpoints thus increasing the opportunity for a collaborative learning experience

3. Challenge and educate students on completing the freshman year experience in a professional manner and adjusting to the changes that come from the transition from high school to college.

4. Practice leadership skills through team building workshops and professional learning; hone leadership skills through modeling by way of case studies and leadership examples

5. Provide opportunities to build and maintain professional use of technology and on-line media outlets

6. Provide mentoring opportunities for students regarding career paths and professional development and networking

7. Empower students to take responsibility for their learning and leadership growth through hands on research, discussion and presentation.

8. Understand and improve nonverbal elements in interpersonal exchanges and use these skills to initiate interactions with other leaders in the field

9. Maintain a sense of control while answering questions in one-on-one interviews and networking opportunities

10. Practice and enhance interpersonal relationships with peers and professionals and clearly articulate connections between experiences and accomplishments

Throughout these workshops, the EOP freshman students will develop insights into audience awareness and identify leadership philosophies, styles and effectiveness. Everyone needs to communicate in every area of their lives from personal relationships, professional relationships and mediated relationships. Creatively developing messages through careful preparation, practice and presentation will result in more effective and successful communication among peers, in the social media outlets and with professionals. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to respect differing viewpoints of peers in order to effectively execute project initiatives and relate learned skills with other leadership opportunities both on- and off- campus.