Now Accepting Applications for 2009-2010!Applications DUE Friday, April 10th Contact BLP@umb.edu with any questions! |
Beacon Leadership Project
Campus Center, 2nd Floor, 2300.08
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
617-287-7953
blp@umb.edu
History
The Beacon Leadership Project: Leaders at the Point
An Integrative and Collaborative Learning Model for Student Leadership Development at the University of Massachusetts Boston
Introduction
The
Student Leadership Development Program (SLDP) was initially formed at
the University of Massachusetts Boston in spring semester 1995. Administered
through the Office of Student Life, the program evolved into a two-semester
leadership skills-based seminar format with an additional semester for
a community service and mentoring experience. Since the program's inception,
it has served nearly 120 students. These students have succeeded in numerous
on and off-campus academic and leadership endeavors. Two
program alumni received the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Award, and many have gone on to other leadership roles. After
an informal review of the program during the summer of 1999 by the Assistant
Dean of Students and Associate Director of Student Life, it was decided
to launch a full-scale program evaluation and assessment during the upcoming
academic year. During the 1999-2000 academic year, an intra-university
advisory committee of 11-members was formed and chaired by the Assistant
Dean of Students.
The Committee was charged with:
(1) providing leadership for revisioning the SLPD with the goal
of refocusing and expanding the three significant components of the program.
These components include learning outcomes, community service and service
learning, mentoring; and
(2) exploring sustainability and institutionalization of the SLDP by determining strategies for ensuring the longevity of the program through an adequate program structure and substantial financial and human resources.
The Advisory Committee was divided into three subcommittees which included: Program Administration/Structure (program organization, budget development, space, staffing); Program Marketing (urban mission, program name, program size, diversity, website, marketing materials); and Program Content/Resources (urban mission, credit/competency bearing, program responsiveness, assurances of diversity, mentor experience, program alumni). The result of the Advisory Committee's work was the development of the Beacon Leadership Project: Leaders at the Point as a two-semester credit bearing experience that combines coursework with active service learning.