Mission

We believe that the Student Leadership Institute is a student organization that provides leadership education opportunities to the student body and exposes them to different leadership issues. We believe that the Student Leadership Institute develops personal awareness of leadership issues, which can be utilized in all aspects of one’s life. We believe that the Student Leadership Institute is at its best when individuals are able to combine leadership skills to understand the scope of their potential. We believe that all Student Leadership Institute committee members should understand the need to be role models, have open minds, think objectively, and to work together as a team. We believe that the Student Leadership Institute can provide a means for people to interact with others and learn about opportunities on campus.

Commitment to the study of

Multi-disciplinary Leadership

Have you ever wondered what leadership skills you posses or if you are developing them to the fullest extent? Here at the Student Leadership Institute we do our best to help our students become prominent well prepared leaders in their community. We offer eight leadership certificate tracks which educate students on leadership skills, foundations, and resources. Students may also elect to take workshops without completing a certificate track. To receive a certificate, participants must complete 4 required areas per track completing:

Program core workshops: All participants regardless of certificate track must complete 3 workshops that provide the fundamentals of leadership theory, issues, and models.

Track core workshops: These workshops focus on specific leadership skill-building topics relevant to each track. There are usually 5 or 6 workshops in this section.

Elective Workshops: Participants can choose 2 electives from a menu of workshops offered on a variety of different topics to supplement leadership training.

Experiential component: Participants must complete a minimum of 5 hours in an active leadership experience and write a 2 page reflective essay. The experiential component is key to helping participants practice their leadership skills and reflect on knowledge gained.

The program is FREE to currently matriculated CSUF students and students from our SLI Community College partners: Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College. Non-CSUF students, alumni, and community members can participate in the program for a registration fee.

History

The Student Leadership Institute (SLI) was established in 1992 as a free leadership training program for Cal State Fullerton students. This program is part of the Dean of Students Leadership and Multicultural Development Programs office. Since 1992, over 6500 students have benefited from training with over 1800 students awarded certificates of completion. The SLI program in collaboration with community colleges Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College offer similar SLI programs to students at these campuses (See College Partners page for more information).

The program began as a result of students working together with Student Life staff to develop a leadership training program that would specifically address the needs of college student leaders. The goal was to establish a program that would connect classroom learning with leadership education, knowledge, and opportunities in an out-of-classroom setting. Students were key in the development and overall coordination of the program. This holds true today with several students holding positions on the SLI Coordinating Committee (SLICC), SLI Intro-Team Member (SITM), or on the banquet planning committee (BPC). At its inception, SLI offered only one leadership track called University Leadership. In 1993, the EMBRACE track, which provides intercultural communications and human relationship training, was added to the program.  

Today there are eight tracks that provide leadership training on a variety of different topics that include diversity, professional development, public service and nonprofit, social justice, etc. Click here to read about each of our tracks. To recognize the accomplishments of its participants, SLI has held an annual banquet to celebrate the achievements of student leaders, presenters, and certificate recipients. Click here for more information about the upcoming SLI Spring Banquet. Participants completing all program requirements receive a certificate of completion signed by the University President, and Vice President for Student Affairs.

LAST UPDATED 07/30/2010