Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a “typical” student who joins Leadership Lehigh?
No, there is no typical Leadership Lehigh student. The program is committed to creating the most diverse cohort of students possible to create an engaging learning environment for all participants. This means that those with numerous previous leadership experiences will find a place in the program, as will students with little to no prior leadership experience. The overall program is designed to give all students the opportunity to be both learner and teacher for their peers. The more diversity in thought, background and experience brought together the greater the opportunity for development and displays of leadership excellence.
How can you join Leadership Lehigh and when?
Leadership Lehigh is closed to new applicants at this time but will re-emerge as a new program in Fall 2015. Be on the lookout for more information soon!
What is the time commitment or participation requirement for Leadership Lehigh?
In general the time commitment is pretty standard at 20-25 hours per semester for all phases in Leadership Lehigh. The most standard of the commitments are the workshops at 2-3 per semester, lasting 90 minutes each as well as the reflection team meetings at 3-4 per semester, lasting 60 minutes each. With regard to a weekly commitment students can anticipate between 90 minutes and two hours devoted to the overall Leadership Lehigh commitment.
What happens after Leadership Lehigh, if I finish the program when I am a junior?
Leadership Lehigh is intentionally designed to incorporate options for involvement for those students who want to continue growing with or giving back to the program once they are finished. The role of reflection team leader is meant to be filled with students who are in their final year of the program or those that are seniors who have completed the program. This allows the team they are working with the benefit of connecting with someone who has a mature and complete picture of what the program is designed to instill in participants.
How are students integrated into the facilitation and coordination of Leadership Lehigh?
There are a variety of ways students are engaged in the coordination of the program. Each cohort that enters is assigned a “Phase Coordinator.” This student is a upperclassmen in the Leadership Lehigh program who is responsible for all the logistics associated with tracking participants in that particular cohort. They are in constant email communication with participants reminding them about workshops, team meetings, assignments due dates, and amazing opportunities on campus. They also build rapport with cohort members and serve as an extra connection to the Leadership Lehigh program and the Office of Student Leadership Development for the students.
Additionally each of the three group projects requires at least one or two student “Project Assistants,” in addition to the cohorts “Phase Coordinator” to make sure they are being successfully coordinated and that they are logistically sound for the Leadership Lehigh students who are working on them. These “project assistants” work directly with the Leadership Lehigh students on their group projects as liaisons offering guidance and advice to ensure a smooth process and a high quality product is delivered by all groups.
The “Reflection Team Leader” role is designed specifically for seniors who have completed the full Leadership Lehigh program or for highly engaged and motivated juniors that are excellent examples of commitment and dedication to the program. This leader serves as a true facilitator for student growth and development; they are not asked to read from a script or conduct workshops-they are the guides that help participants make meaning and connect learning from the various activities in the program. This allows the team they are working with the benefit of connecting with someone who has a mature and complete picture of what the program is designed to instill in participants. Not only can they bring their learning from the program to the younger members but they can also provide resources on how to effectively execute group projects and deal with team dynamics from having a similar shared experience.
