Leadership Programs

Leadership Lessons

Mission Statement

The Leadership Development Program is focused on exposing and educating aspiring, new and experienced student leaders to topics, theories and opportunities connected with leadership.  In doing this, the Program strives to provide these leaders with an experiential environment to enhance personal growth, civic responsibility and ability to influence positive change in their communities.

Vision Statement

Seeking innovative ways to educate and serve all members of the WPI Community through:

Leadership Programs at WPI

The development of leadership skills for students at WPI occurs in a multitude of formats ranging from planning and attendance at weekend retreats that include teambuilding activities and ropes courses, to organizational training with Greek organizations and Student Government Association, to organizational workshops. The following are the many leadership development opportunities supported by the Campus Center and Student Activities Department.

Here you can find information about:

Retreats for clubs and organizations—Throughout the year, staff within the Campus Center and Student Activities Department work with student leaders to plan and facilitate weekend retreats. Staff members support students in development of the agenda, facilitating activities that encourage teamwork and goal setting among student participants. To schedule a meeting to discuss your organization retreat, contact one of our staff members.

The XCEL Newsletter—The XCEL Newsletter, our departmental newsletter “that connects education with leadership,” continues to serve a vehicle through which to communicate information to clubs and organizations about organizational functioning and upcoming dates is published periodically each year. Check out the past editions:

Leadership Luncheon Series—The Leadership Luncheon Series are a series of speakers who each spoke about a specific topic related to leadership in which they have expertise. Speakers were recruited from the greater community and were asked to speak about the ways in which leadership has impacted their careers. The entire student population is invited to attend the program (graduate and undergraduate students) and provided lunch as part of the program. Some sample workshops include:

To register for upcoming events, check online.

Leading Edge Series for the Emerging Leader—The Leading Edge Series for the Emerging Leader is a seven-part series held during B-Term that is open to all students. You’ll learn about a number of different topics through the program including: Leadership Styles, Group Dynamics, Role Modeling and Ethical Decision Making, Goal Setting, Vision, Delegation, Motivation, Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Diversity Awareness, and Time Management and Wellness. Students who attend six of the seven workshops received a leadership certificate of completion.

Leading Edge Series for the Advanced Leader—The second part of the Leading Edge Series is a curriculum for the advanced leader. The series, held during D-Term, is based upon the Relational Mode of Leadership. Each week, the series uses experiential learning and reflection to discuss one of the components of the model. The series introduced the model, discussed empowerment, inclusivity, ethical decision making, the importance of process and outcome, remaining purposeful, and the last session focused upon ways in which to put the model into practice. Throughout the series, participants also:

Consortium Leadership Opportunities—The Campus Center and Student Activities Staff work collaboratively with other Consortium Student Activities staff members to plan a leadership conference for consortium schools each year. Workshop topics in the past have included exploring leadership styles, teambuilders and ice breakers, recruiting and retaining members, event planning, and conflict management.

Leadership Library—We have added new titles to the Leadership Library, which are available for students to check out from the Campus Center and Student Activities Department on the third floor of the Campus Center. The titles include books on management leadership, achieving buy-in, leadership theory, diversity and leadership, as well as teambuilders and icebreakers. The library also includes archives of Programming Magazine, a publication of the National Association of Campus Activities. Browse the titles online, or come into the office to browse titles and check out a book for two weeks that can help enhance your leadership skills.

Leadership Resource Center - Ice breakers and teambuilders are some of the best ways to get an organization, team or work group to communicate, get to know one another and create memories based off of a similar experience. Browse the Leadership Resource Center, a new online resource for clubs and organizations to find the right tips, ice breakers and teambuilders for any situation!

Project Adventure Teambuilding Supplies—Student organizations can reserve and use the supplies from an extensive collection of teambuilding activities created by Project Adventure. To learn more, contact sao@wpi.edu.

Leadership Committee—The Leadership Committee, composed of staff and student participants, continued to support and develop leadership opportunities for students. The committee is also a leadership development opportunity for the students who serve on the committee who are exposed to leadership theories and the strategic planning that is used when developing leadership curriculum. These students also assist in presenting workshops with staff members for the Leading Edge Series Emerging Leaders Program.

XCEL Points – XCEL Point sheets are located outside the Student Activities Office and serve as a resource for everyone from students interested in getting involved to the most advanced student leader. These points cover various topics from delegation and event planning to time management and leadership. You can also find XCEL Points online.

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Last modified: May 02, 2008 12:59:38