Hobart and William Smith Colleges

What is it?

The HWS Leads program is designed to purposefully guide students in the study of leadership and offer the opportunity to develop as leaders through academic enrichment and applied learning. This program provides the foundation for students to embark upon, or continue, their journey of developing into ethical, inclusive and value-based leaders.

How does it work?

The HWS Leads program encompasses five requirements: Leadership Theory (regular course), Public Speaking Reader's College course, Leadership Applied Training, a Leadership Fieldwork Experience or Research, and a culminating e-Portfolio. Once students complete the Leadership Theory course, they are able to complete the rest of the requirements in whatever order they choose. This allows flexibility to accommodate for study abroad, extracurricular commitments, etc.

HWS Leads Certificate Requirements:

• Leadership Theory is the gateway course into the certificate program. By providing an overview of contemporary leadership theories, this course deepens students' understanding of leadership and balances academic enrichment with engaged learning. Students will begin working on their individual portfolio that chronicles their growth, perspectives, values, experiences and personal leadership understanding. Students are not eligible for the Leads program until they successfully complete this one credit course.

• HWS Leads: Public Speaking Reader’s College introduces students to the basics of public speaking and presentation techniques, an essential leadership skill. Topics covered include: critiquing a speech, analyzing an audience, exploring a topic, arranging a speech, the use of language and the performance of speech through the voice and body. This course provides a practical opportunity for students to become a better public speaker in a variety of public speaking and communication contexts.

• Leadership Applied is a Leadership training experience. Students have the flexibility to complete over one academic year by accumulating points earned by attending a variety of workshops, trainings, speakers and programs that the Centennial Center offers. These opportunities are specifically designed to assist students in making the connections between the theory and concepts learned in the Leadership Theory 1 and the Public Speaking Reader's College course to applied leadership experiences. In order to satisfy the Leadership Applied requirement for the HWS Leads Certificate students must receive 10 points by attending offered workshops, speakers, and/or Centennial Center programs.
  • Leadership Applied Essentials: Core Curriculum
    Students will attend each of the Core Workshops to collect five points. The Core workshops are offered in both the Fall and Spring semesters.
    
    • Creating & Leading High-Performance Teams
    • Building Relationships & Growing Community for Leaders
    • Leading Effective Organizations
    • Leveraging Your Leadership & Creating Your Brand
    • Leading Across Cultures
  • Leadership Applied Essentials: Specialized Content Areas
    In addition to the five points required through the Core Curriculum, students will have the autonomy to craft the remainder of their Leadership Applied Essentials experience by attending specialized workshops, programs, and speakers through the Centennial Center. Key content areas the Centennial Center covers include:
    
    • Engaging in Activism & Social Justice
    • Idea Generation
    • Creativity & Innovation
    • Envisioning & Creating Change
    • Strategic Management
    • Pitching & Presenting
    • Startup Proposal Process
    • Alumni Mentorship

• Fieldwork is designed to be the certificate’s capstone experience. During this time, students will have the opportunity to practice and develop the theories and skills they have learned throughout their time in the Leads Certificate program, through a structured experience. Fieldwork will be focused in a particular area that meets the student’s interests and professional development goals. Fieldwork can be a community placement or internship, approved on-campus leadership role, or academic research. Prior to enrolling in Fieldwork, students will meet with a Centennial Center staff member to discuss Fieldwork opportunities. After this advising session, students must complete an action plan that details their field work experience, goals, and intended outcomes. Students will identify and partner with a Fieldwork Supervisor for their project in addition to receiving regular support from a Centennial Center Fieldwork Advisor. Fieldwork requires that students submit a leadership proposal and complete up to 45 hours of research during the course of a semester or academic year through internships, community placements, on-campus leadership roles, or academic research. Students will compile their certificate work into an uniquely designed e-Portfolio to showcase their most prominent reflections, experiences and understandings around leadership. This allows students to present their leadership work and articulate important learning milestones experienced during the certificate program as well as throughout their time at HWS.

• Leadership ePortfolio spans work derived from all the four requirements of the HWS Leads Certificate program: two readers college courses, Leadership Applied trainings and the Fieldwork experience. A mainstay of the certificate program is self-reflection. The portfolio is a place for students to compile their certificate work, reflect on their process and articulate important learning milestones. A completed portfolio is simply an organized storyboard, uniquely designed by each student, showcasing their most prominent reflections, experiences and understandings around leadership. Portfolios are designed to be a professional presentation of a student’s leadership work during the certificate program as well as throughout their time at HWS.

Recent ePortfolios:

Who is eligible?

Only students who have successfully completed Leadership Theory 1 are eligible to continue with the Leads certificate program. We encourage students to begin during their first or sophomore year to allow ample time to complete the requirements.