Learn – Engage – Advocate – Develop – Serve Build Your Brand! Be Involved! Enhance Your Resume! WP LEADS is a set of digital badges that students can earn through their participation in extra-curricular experiences such as attending workshops and speakers, participating in community service, civic engagement, philanthropy and social justice activities, being involved in student organizations and campus leadership positions, attending well-being activities, etc. Each digital badge has a specific set of requirements that can be tracked on a student’s Engagement Portfolio in Pioneer Life. Complete at least three digital badges to be inducted into the WP LEADS Honor Society! Click here to find out how the WP LEADS badges work? Click on each Badge to see the requirements. Civic Engagement and Philanthropy The Civic Engagement and Philanthropy Badge is designed to assist students with meeting and tracking their progress in achieving the university’s civic engagement participation expectations of completing two low and two high level activities before graduation. WP LEADS supports the university’s Civic Engagement initiative to encourage every student to become more civically minded and engaged through participation in their UCC5 course and in several low and high level civic engagement and philanthropy extra-curricular experiences. By participating in civic engagement and philanthropic activities, students earn "credits" which could be applied towards the total badge requirement. Examples include attending Pioneer Service Ventures or the Fall Day of Giving Hike with Provost Powers; contributing to a Fall/Spring Giving Day fund of your choice; contributing to the Senior Class Gift (if a senior); volunteering or donating 3-5 items to the Pioneer Pantry; volunteering at a local agency or an alumni event (e.g. tailgating registration, Senior Sendoff). Additional information and activities can be found at http://wpunj.edu/civic-engagement/index.html. Administered by Campus Activities, Service and Leadership. Greek S.T.A.R Leaders Program The Greek S.T.A.R. (Striving Towards Amazing Results) Leaders Program is designed to help members of the Greek community who currently hold leadership positions or who aspire to hold a position, gain skills needed to make an impact in their respective organizations. Through their participation in the program, they will be able to network with their peers while participating in a variety of educational sessions. The program meets a specific need within the fraternity and sorority community, and seeks to supplement the holistic growth and development that WP hopes to provide each student. Administered by Campus Activities, Service and Leadership. Leaders in Action The Leaders in Action digital badge is an advanced leadership development badge based on being an active student positional leader at WP. Positional leaders include students who are serving on the executive board of a student organization, serving in a leadership role such as Resident Assistant, Peer Mentor, Orientation Leader, etc. Participation in the Leaders in Action digital badge will assist student leaders with advanced training to better manage their organizations and enhance their work with peers. Leaders in Action has 4 competencies: Management and Foundational, Recruitment and Retention, Communication, and Engagement. Administered by Campus Activities, Service and Leadership. Pioneer Leadership Institute Pioneer Leadership Institute (PLI) is an emerging leadership program for all new first year students. Founded in the social change model of leadership, first year students will explore defining leadership, reflecting on their leadership style and discover ways to enhance their leadership skills through their involvement in athletics, clubs, organizations, the classroom, their jobs and civic engagement. Requirements to complete the PLI program include: attending 3 (I hour) leadership development workshops and participating in one community service project or initiative during their first year at William Paterson University. All students who complete the PLI requirements will be invited to a recognition ceremony and receive a certificate. This program is administered by the Office of Campus Activities, Service and Leadership. Career and Professional Success The Career and Professional Success Badge will prepare students to conduct a productive job search. Through participation in workshops and individual experiences, students will learn and hone the skills necessary to successfully navigate the job search process. After completing the program, students will be able to identify employment opportunities, submit effective application materials and present themselves well in an interview process. Administered by Career Development Center. Social Justice Leadership The Social Justice Leadership Badge is for students who want to be an agent of change. The program will give students of all identities the opportunity to understand systems of oppression, privilege, identity development, and strategies to create a more fair and just world. Students can select from two tracks: Identity and / or Environmental Justice in which they can participate in “Choose Your Own Adventure Approved Workshops” for either track. This badge is administered by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). Well-Being Badge The Well-Being Badge introduces the concept of well-being, which means a state of mind and body that is healthy, productive, and satisfying. For many people, especially in this time, achieving well-being does not happen by itself, but can be brought about by learning and practicing simple skills and activities on a regular basis. Such practice counteracts the negative impact of the stresses and strains of everyday life, provides a protective shield from them, and helps us cope better. Importantly, too, research shows that it also improves the abilities needed for being successful in school. Many people prefer one type of well-being activity over others. In order to complete this badge, students are asked to complete the foundational course and choose one activity from each of the four category areas. In doing so, students are provided with an opportunity to engage in some activities they may already be comfortable with and challenge themselves to try something new. Within each category, students will have an opportunity to choose from among a range of well-being activities, like exercise classes, developing enhanced relationship and conversation skills, or learning and practicing specific stress management techniques, like relaxation or meditation. Regular practice of any of these activities can have positive benefits for your health, well-being, and academic success. Please note: students who received the well-being curriculum in Will Power 101, have already received credit for completion of the foundational course.
