Leadership Foundation

Leadership Foundation

The Department of Student Life, in considering its motto “Engage. Connect. Belong”, wanted to adopt a leadership development model that approaches student engagement as purposeful, collaborative, and to create a larger impact on the surrounding community. We decided the Social Change Model would best fit with our mission.  

Based on seven values of leadership that occur on three dimensions with the goal of positive social change, the model defines a “leader” as anyone who wants to work with others to make a difference. This kind of collaborative process means that groups must have trust, which requires that group members act in ways that are consistent with their own beliefs and values as well as the groups goals.

Our leaders try to improve groups or communities in order to connect them to greater resources, engage them in their interests, and cultivate a sense of belonging. Student Life has eight different branches of involvement that pose opportunities for creating this change. This model allows the eight branches of Student Life to impact all who attend UCCS and beyond!

Consciousness of Self

Awareness of the beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions that motivate one to take action.

Congruence

Thinking, feeling, and behaving with consistency, genuineness, authenticity, and honesty.

Commitment

Motivational energy to serve and that drives the collective effort. Commitment implies passion, intensity, and duration.

Collaboration

Working with others in a common effort. It constitutes the cornerstone value of the group leadership effort because it empowers self and others through trust.

Common Purpose

Working with shared aims and values. It facilitates the group’s ability to engage in collective analysis of the issues at hand and the task to be undertaken.

Controversy with Civility

Recognizes two fundamental realities of any creative group effort: that differences in viewpoint are inevitable, and that such difference must be aired openly but with civility.

Citizenship

Process whereby the individual and the collaborative group become responsibly connected to the community and the society through the leadership experience.