Student Leadership

Student-Centered Leadership: Engaging Students by Design (abstract) was a panel presentation led by John O'Brien with panelists Jenn Stringer, Judy Miner and Pam Eddinger.

O'Brien started the session with a rally call for a student first focus. COVID has been an accelerator of the sense of urgency and crisis that we have experienced over the past 18 months. 

Stringer took a mental health perspective recognizing that depression and anxiety are critical issues faced by many institutions. The IT department on their campus invited students to be advisors on the tech council. Students who used services on a regular basis not the students who are in computer science or engineering - wanted the experience of the everyday student. What challenges they were faced with, what gaps could they identify. Also looked at how the issues of privacy and proctoring had an impact on students. 

Miner asked us to reimagine ourselves after the pandemic. Who are our students? Who will we hire? What will be delivered and how will it be delivered? Miner felt that it was important to offer students greater space for exploration and examination of program options - not just curriculum supports, but also collaboration, networking and the creation of peer groups. Miner noted that equity will be a core topic for faculty development. Regardless of place/space, we need to consider the student perspective.

Eddinger recognized the crisis of the pandemic but also the inequities faced by marginalized communities due to race, poverty and the digital divide. Eddinger also acknowledged that many of our students were already in crisis before the pandemic. They suggested that we use the classroom as a container for healing and creating community. Institutions should offer mental health training for faculty, in order to see the signs of major issues. Eddinger compared this to many helping hands on campus, all looking out for the students. 

To sum up the session they stressed that being a student centred leader means not knowing the answers, but asking the right questions. Also, all transformation should have student success/achievement/engagement at the heart of the initiative.