Leadership development programs have become widespread in higher education; over 1500 different programs had been registered with the International Leadership Association as of 2012 (Owen, 2012). Given the prevalence of these programs and the substantial institutional investments they require, examination of their purported impacts is a valid area…

Formal leadership development programs enhance what students learn in the classroom by giving them powerful tools for personal and professional success. They are also a differentiator for many institutions. They help schools attract more high-ability students, distinguish themselves from peer institutions, and increase the value of a student's…

Developing undergraduate student leaders who are authentic in their leadership and who have a drive to serve and support those around them is not only good for the students and their host schools, but arguably good for students' future employers and even the future of our society. Our goal is to determine how such student leaders could be…

Background: Leadership growth during short-term study abroad programs remain of critical interest to educators. No research exists on how a strengths-based study abroad curriculum influences resilience growth for working adult graduate students. Purpose: This exploratory study sought to examine how utilizing a strengths-based curriculum…

Nearly every graduate school, especially professional schools, claims to train, educate, and develop leaders. However, the leader-development literature offers little evidence of how a graduate level leader-development course might actually do that. Developmental theory informing experiential and constructivist leader-development methods suggest…

Even as educators understand how their millennial students learn in such different ways than previous generations (watching how-to videos downloaded from YouTube or engaging in experiential learning adventures), colleges still rely heavily on in-the-classroom learning. The author can't offer an alternative to this classroom format, but she…

University educators are concerned with student leadership development in order to generate much-needed leaders in every aspect of society. This sequential mixed methods study found that students who participate in a university co-curricular outdoor education leadership training program, combined with the experience of leading a wilderness…

The model of experiential learning at Warren Wilson College (North Carolina) is described, with attention to the triad of work, service, and academic study and The Center for Applied Student Research (The Center). Student are required to work 15 hours per week on one of 76 work crews; they assume adult responsibility for their work products and…

Describes evolution and structure of the four-year leadership curriculum at Southwestern College (Kansas), whose model promotes personal development, interpersonal growth, and service leadership through class work, field trips, conferences, and practical experience. Students work on projects throughout the program as teams, mentored in the early…

Written and experiential activities help teens discover their own leadership potential and develop skills that guide them to act responsibly and make a difference in the world around them. Teens gain a greater understanding of who they are, what matters to them, how that translates into leadership, and how leadership relates to everyday life.…

The Washington Governor's School for Citizen Leadership gathers a diverse group of high school students and presents a curriculum focusing on experiential, integrated learning. The school emphasizes expressive arts, interpersonal and team skills, and critical thinking; and seeks to ignite students' social responsibility and empower them to take…

Describes the development of "One America" at Glendale Community College (California), a program involving student project coordinators who work on specific issue areas and coordinate a series of presentations and workshops. The program identified five areas of concern: diversity, HIV/AIDS, women's issues, gay and lesbian issues, and…

The 10-day 1980 National Leadership Conference sponsored and administered by the American Youth Foundation, was held at Camp Miniwanca (Michigan) for 123 youth participants representing four cities (Indianapolis, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis). The theme was leadership (the leader as servant and guide who helps a group to achieve their ends,…

Employing experiential adventure activities to develop leadership skills of young people and teachers, the National Leadership Conference (NLC) program, held during a 10-day session at Camp Miniwanca in Michigan, is constructed from 5 distinctive elements: (1) high intensity orientation; (2) carefully structured learning experiences; (3)…

The 10-day 1981 National Leadership Conference (NLC) sponsored by the American Youth Foundation was held at Camp Miniwanca (Michigan) for 182 urban high school students selected for leadership ability or potential and other specific criteria established by each student's home city. Students participated in seminars, skills explorations,…