A message from the director
Mary Tolar, Director, School of Leadership Studies
Whether we are “born leaders” or become leaders through trial and experience, each of us has the ability to lead somewhere within us. The School of Leadership Studies at K-State is designed to help students identify and strengthen their potential as leaders through civic engagement and service-learning opportunities. The student leaders in our classrooms today are the community and workplace leaders of tomorrow.
The largest school of leadership studies at a public university in the country, the School of Leadership Studies at K-State is a value-centered learning community that provides undergraduate academic coursework and an array of programs, all with the purpose of educating students for and about leadership. Our mission is to develop knowledgeable, ethical, caring, inclusive leaders for a diverse and changing world.
Academic minor
Leadership studies began in 1997 with 13 students and is now the largest academic program on campus, with more than 1,200 students enrolled in the leadership studies minor. These students represent all seven academic colleges with undergraduate programs at the Manhattan campus. Leadership studies offers a standard or nonprofit focus, allowing students to tailor their leadership experience at K-State based on their future career goals and expectations.
Service-learning opportunities
Leadership studies reaches more than 2,500 students through its programs and courses. This co-curricular programming offers students opportunities to enhance social responsibility, citizenship and awareness of community needs to improve the quality of life. Students can participate on local, national and international levels through programs such as academic mentoring, AmeriCorps at K-State, Manhattan Good Neighbors program, International Service and Alternative Breaks teams, and HandsOn Kansas State.
Sustainability and community development
The School of Leadership Studies at K-State recently moved into a state-of-the-art facility, and in 2011 received the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification on campus. LEED is a governmental program that evaluates how “green” a building is, and certification is earned when a building is found to be sustainable in a tangible, measurable way. LEED gold (the level of certification received) goes beyond the new standard for federal buildings across the country. Students contributed to the building design through active participation on the building committee, and several student leadership groups raised money for dedicated space in the building. All classrooms feature the latest in teaching technology.
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