What we’re asking of members:

• Embrace and champion our fundamental commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice at CSU, as well as our Courageous Strategic Transformation priorities around the “green” (our planet) and the “gold” (our people), and work to develop a program that empowers students to contribute to these commitments and priorities.

• Meet in January for an initial orientation to the project (approximately three hours—and we’ll feed you!) and to get to know your fellow students and advisors.

• During this initial meeting, take on a specific research, brainstorming, or other assignment that will move the program development along; commit to having this done by the next meeting. This might include reviewing existing programs at other institutions; interviewing students or staff at CSU for their input and expertise; reading published articles about what leadership skills are most valuable to students today and how students can acquire them, etc.

• Then meet twice a month February through April for 90-120 minutes to build the framework and structure of the program together, informed by the research and brainstorming that everyone is doing in between meetings.

• Present the proposal to me by early May, so that we can put a call out to students to join this program for Fall 2022. (As a member of the program development team, you would absolutely be eligible to participate next year.)

What you get out of being part of this group:

• Unique learning and professional development experience to add to your resume.

• Opportunity to work directly with university leadership, including the President.

• Opportunity to work directly with other talented student leaders at CSU, to build your personal and professional network while working toward a common goal.

• Access to recommenders for graduate school or references for jobs, from among the advisors of the group and other university leaders the group might engage during the project.

• Invaluable project-based learning experience: you’ll build this program from scratch and then help implement it for the following year. Along the way you will learn how to overcome obstacles and work through setbacks to see a major project through to completion.