A mainstay within the Centennial Center is its flagship leadership certificate program, which aims to produce one cohort of ethical, inclusive student leaders each semester. HWS Leads is designed to deepen students' understanding of self, broaden their theoretical perspective and engage in action initiatives with significant implications. Students across all levels of leadership experience are encouraged to apply. Once accepted into the program, students can enroll into our Reader's College course, also titled HWS Leads: Minds Wide Open, and start on certificate requirements, which include a Public Speaking course, community service hours and a research project or substantial leadership role. For more information on program requirements or to complete an application please visit our website.
HWS Leads: Minds Wide Open Reader's College
The HWS Leads Reader's College is the gateway into the HWS Leads Leadership Certificate Program. In this course students will study, read, and discuss various components and practices of effective leadership. Students will learn how to lead with an inclusive, ethical, and values-based approach. Invited speakers and experiential activities add depth and breadth to the content. Course readings are chapters and articles drawn primarily from the leadership, sociology, education, social justice and diversity, and business literature.
Public Speaking Reader's College
Communication fills our days and the ability to speak and present with confidence is an essential leadership skill. The CCL Reader's College in Public Speaking will introduce students to the basics of public speaking and presentation skills. This course will provide students with a practical opportunity to become better presenters and public speakers. Topics covered include: critiquing a speech, analyzing an audience, exploring a topic, arranging a speech, the use of the language and the performance of speech through the voice and body.
Community Service
Students must complete 15 hours of community service in one semester.
Community service provides the opportunity for students to put what is learned in the Leadership Certificate Program into practice. It also allows them to observe the leadership styles and behaviors of others, and consider the effectiveness of those approaches within a particular context. Further, it is important to recognize the value—from a leadership perspective—of giving back to the community and building community relations.
Leadership Practicum
Students must complete either one semester in a substantial leadership role on campus or in the community OR a Community-Based Research (CBR) project.
There are numerous opportunities for students to serve in leadership roles on the HWS campus or in the Geneva community. In order to fulfill the HWS Leads leadership-in-practice requirement, students must serve in a substantial leadership role for one semester. "Substantial" means that students are not only taking an active role in an organization, but also a role in which they assume major responsibility and demonstrate effective leadership. In addition to fulfilling responsibilities as a campus or community leader, students must also submit a reflective journal every two weeks on Blackboard. Reflections should relate the experience of leadership to what is learned in the HWS Leads program.
CBR projects are semester-long collaborations between community partners, student researchers, and faculty sponsors, for which students also earn a ½ credit. CBR projects are coordinated through the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL). Community partners typically identify needs within their organizations and then CCESL works to pair the organization/project with a faculty member. Students must apply for CBR project opportunities and receive faculty and site approval. Once enrolled in a CBR project, the faculty advisor for the project will work with the student to outline academic goals, including written assignments, projects and/or presentations. Students working on CBR projects are considered CCESL Civic Leaders and are required to go through 15 hours of leadership support and must present the project results in the Engaged Scholarship Forum at the end of the semester. To use a CBR project experience to fulfill the HWS Leads leadership-in-practice requirement, students must submit a reflective journal every two weeks on Blackboard. Reflections should relate the experience of the CBR project with what is learned in the HWS Leads program.
Examples of CBR projects completed by previous HWS Leads students include Nutrition Outreach for Geneva's Middle Schoolers, Updating the Success for Geneva's Children Data Report, Neighborhood Study for Geneva's First Ward, and Need and Benefits of Child Care on HWS Campus.
The Centennial Center for Leadership
603 South Main Street
Geneva, NY 14456
Phone: (315) 781-4550
