Office of Undergraduate Studies. Student Leadership Team Handbook

Transcription

1 Office of Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team Handbook

2 2 Table of Contents Welcome..3 UGS SLT Program Overview a. Mission Statement..4 b. Goals c. Outcomes...4 UGS SLT Guidelines a. Expectations...5 b. SLT Responsibilities c. SLT Roles d. Professionalism e. SLT Code of Ethics Technology Policy Confidentiality Protocols and Procedures FERPA Considerations Helpful University Resources UGS SLT Agreement Form... 10

3 3 Welcome! As a member of the Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team, you will join the faculty and staff in the Office of Undergraduate Studies to advance student success and engagement at Florida Gulf Coast University. Your leadership skills and excellence have set you apart among your peers on our campus. By being a part of the Student Leadership Team, you have the opportunity to enhance your communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills, and you will find that you will grow on both a personal and a professional level. You will also positively influence the lives of fellow students, facilitating their growth as lifelong learners and civically engaged individuals. Thank you for helping to foster a more collaborative and successful Undergraduate Studies Program and FGCU community overall! Our intention is that this text serves as a guide and resource as you transform in your UGS Student Leadership Team role. In his work The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge explains, In a learning organization, leaders are designers, teachers, and stewards. 1 As a student leader, you are teaching those whom you lead and serve, while designing a better academic future for you and your peers. As you continue to develop and enhance your leadership talents, our hope is that you continue sharing your leadership with others to promote even greater learning and success. Thank you for all of your efforts and your involvement in the Undergraduate Studies Leadership Team! We look forward to working with you. Congratulations! Sean K. Kelly, Ph.D. Dean, Office of Undergraduate Studies Catherine A. Gorman, M.A. Coordinator, Office of Undergraduate Studies 1 Senge, Peter M. The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Education. London: Random House Business, Print.

4 4 Mission Statement: The mission of the FGCU Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team, in alignment with our Florida Gulf Coast University mission and guiding principles, is to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity for enhanced academic, cultural, career, and social development. Student Leaders offer guidance and support in academic, personal, and service-oriented development by creating high-impact educational experiences and fostering a learning environment focused on collaboration and achievement. Goals: The goal of the FGCU Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team is to have Student Leaders and their peers benefit from collaborative learning. The Program creates supportive academic relationships that allow for the increased benefits of individualized campus and academic support. The goals of the Program include increased retention, greater academic skills and success, and overall personal growth and life skills development of all participants. Outcomes: The expected outcomes of the FGCU Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team include positive learning experiences for all those involved. Student leaders will additionally learn solution-oriented techniques, build communication skills, and execute conflict-management skills. Student Leaders will also gain a sense of intrinsic satisfaction through helping other students achieve their and goals. Undergraduate students within the Undergraduate Studies programs will gain a peer leader who will actively listen and help by answering questions, collaboratively establish and accomplish goals, and provide suggested resources. Through the Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team, undergraduate students are offered individualized academic support and resources designed to expand and advance undergraduate study success.

5 5 UGS SLT Guidelines Student Leadership Expectations: Act as a resource to guide peers in undergraduate studies Assist peers in meeting academic, social, co-curricular, extracurricular expectations Act as a peer counselor Build communication skills with peers Educate peers on university life and programs Encourage peer academic success in partnership with professors Provide peers with additional help, support, or contact information if necessary Act and conduct oneself ethically and professionally as appropriate role model for peers Share honest and personal feedback, experiences, and advice with peers Be prepared and on time for meetings and events Establish priorities and goals, and hold peers responsible for accomplishing tasks Motivate peers to achieve high academic standards and integrity Familiarize oneself with program policies and strategies Abide by program policies and strategies Immediately report health concerns (physical, emotional, psychological, etc.) to program Coordinator Engage with peers embracing diversity and a sense of fairness and respect Encourage student success Student Leadership Responsibilities: Develop and support self-management and goals plans with peers Meet with peers as deemed the necessary frequency of respective program Personally meet with program Coordinator as outlined in specific program guidelines Maintain a confidentiality agreement with peer and program Report necessary information to program Coordinator/Director/Dean within 24 hours Respond to necessary peer contact attempts within 48hrs, even if just a brief response Contact program Coordinator or other supervisors with questions or concerns Create and run social, academic, and/or service events as deemed by respective program Complete GradesFirst or time log documentation promptly and appropriately Immediately report program compliance issues to program Coordinator including academic policy issues, NCAA regulatory issues, or specific program guideline issues Report any illegal activity or abuse immediately Abide by FGCU Student Code of Conduct policies and regulations:

6 6 Student Leadership Roles: As a member of the Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team, you serve as a role model and act as a guide for those whom you partner with. In this position, Student Leaders must act with a certain amount of confidentiality and ensure that the learners interests and achievements are their main goals. Undergraduate Student Leaders will not: Act as a professor or parent Enter into an amorous/romantic relationship with mentee or employee member in office/program while serving in a Student Leader position Misuse peer information (personal, academic, or social) Do a peer s work for him/her Take advantage of the peer or his/her confidence Act as a therapist for students students should be referred to necessary professionals Undergraduate Student Leaders will: Help the peer integrate into university life Exercise effective communication skills and remain as an advisor for peers Serve as a connection between university faculty, university staff, and peers Promote understanding of program and goals Provide support in getting to know the university environment and the use of technologies Offer appropriate support, advice, encouragement, and guidance Help peers establish academic, career, and future goals and assist peers in accomplishing and progressing towards the goals Listen openly and provide appropriate feedback Help peers develop their skills in self-management, time management, prioritizing, setting goals, and accomplishing tasks Abide by Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team policies and code of ethics Refer students to necessary professionals when appropriate, including, but not limited to: Academic Advisors, CAPS counselors, program directors, etc. NOTE: Student Leaders may assist students in reaching out to and utilizing necessary resources and guides, but should never contact any professional on a student s behalf, unless it is through the student s program Advisor, Coordinator, or Director.

7 7 Student Leadership Professionalism: As a member of the Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team, you are considered a professional learner. As such, you are expected to act professionally. When serving as a Student Leader, you are expected to arrive on time for meetings and be dressed appropriately, in a manner that demonstrates an academic endeavor and attire appropriate for the environment. You should remain on message when discussing each respective Undergraduate Studies Program with your peers. This means that your behavior and communication should be positive and tactful, thus representing each program in the most appropriate and constructive manner. Student Leadership Code of Ethics: By serving as a role model for your peers, it is critical that you behave in a manner that reflects ethical considerations. As a Student Leader in this program, you represent the Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team and the FGCU community. Your unique interpersonal skills allow you to be successful in overcoming challenging situations and offering personal advice; however, you are obligated to follow ethical guidelines when working with your peers in your professional, student leadership role. In regards to program ethics, Student Leaders will: 2 Uphold and maintain academic honesty Respect the autonomy and individual dignity of the students they serve Avoid acting beyond the scope of the service for which they were selected Consult with program Coordinator when faced with a situation that makes him/her uncomfortable Act appropriately when working with persons for whom he/she feels attraction. Serve as a role model with the acknowledgment that behavior and speech are observed Avoid overfamiliarity with peers they are leading by maintaining a degree of professional distance Act as a responsible steward of resources Direct mentees to more qualified resources when necessary Lead by example Uphold Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team policies and guidelines NOTE: Establishing intimate or strongly personal relationships with the peers you are leading compromises your Student Leader role. 2 Adapted from Student Helping Students, Ender, S. and Newton, F., 2000, Jossey-Bass Publishers

8 8 Technology Policy: To ensure Student Leader meetings and discussions are best conducive to program goals, Student Leaders should ensure that meetings are as productive as possible. In an effort to best assist those whom they lead, Student Leaders should: Utilize technology only when appropriate/necessary Avoid taking phone calls, texting, or surfing the web during meetings Never post personal, academic, or any other information related to a mentee on an online social media site (including grades, UIN number, etc.). Use proper judgment and abide by Student Leader Code of Ethics when corresponding with peers via phone, , or any other form of social media or communication. Confidentiality: Members of the Undergraduate Studies Student Leader Team are expected and required to maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding peer academic, social, athletic, personal, and career information. The Student Leader and partnering peer may discuss pertinent information with program Coordinators and other necessary supervisors; however, confidential personal information should not be shared with other parties at any time. Protocols and Procedures: Should a Student Leader fail to uphold the professionalism, confidentiality, ethical code, policies, standards, procedures, or expectations associated with the Undergraduate Studies Student Leader Team, the Student Leader may be dismissed from his/her duties. The necessary procedures may include meetings with the Coordinator of the program, Mentor Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, and/or the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Should a Student Leader have any questions or concerns involving his or her leadership role, relationship, or situation, at any time, he/she is responsible for reaching out to the necessary party to have questions and concerns addressed, in order to ensure the proper measures and procedures take place. FERPA Considerations: 3 Any information regarding a student s academic performance must be given voluntarily and shared solely upon the consent of both parties involved. Student Leaders may not have access to any personal student information without the consent of the student. Per university FERPA regulations, A student shall not be permitted to inspect records that personally identify other students even if he/she is personally identified on that record. In such cases he/she shall simply be informed of the information contained on the record. Student Leaders must be aware of FERPA policies and uphold all necessary guidelines and procedures. 3 Quote and additional information regarding FERPA policies can be found at or

9 9 Helpful University Resources: FGCU Police < Student Affairs Case Manager, Lauren Strunk: Referral/Assistance/Support FGCU Office of Housing and Residence Life Residential Student Conduct: < FGCU First Year Advising: < FGCU Academic Advising: < FGCU Office of Housing and Residence Life Community Guidebook available at: < FGCU Office of Undergraduate Studies: < FGCU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) < FGCU Office of Prevention and Wellness < FGCU Center for Academic Achievement < FGCU Writing Center < FGCU Student-Athlete Learning Center < FGCU ACE Program Information < FGCU Step Ahead Program Information < FGCU Office of Service-Learning Information <

10 10 Florida Gulf Coast University Office of Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team Student Leader Agreement I,, agree to the policies set forth in the FGCU Office of Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team Handbook. I have read the handbook and successfully completed the program training. I agree to remain active and involved in program updates and training throughout the year. I agree to work as a Student Leader promoting the growth and success of all those whom I lead. I agree to uphold the Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team policies and goals. I am aware that I can withdraw from the FGCU Office of Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team at any time by notifying my program Coordinator of my withdrawal, and by completing the necessary measures in order to do so. By signing below, I acknowledge and confirm that I will be committed to the FGCU Office of Undergraduate Studies Student Leadership Team and abide by the specific guidelines of the program, including all those listed in this handbook. I also agree to disclosure of academic records for the purpose of application and program qualification information only. Signature: Date: Supervisor: