Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP)

Enrollment in PSLP is open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all majors.

Enrollment

To enroll in the Public Service Leadership Program, students must:

• Complete the gateway course, Ethics and Leadership in Public Service. The course explores ethical questions that arise in public service work, as well as leadership theory and skills relevant to public service work. Through readings, discussions, in-class activities, assignments, and guest lectures, students develop a foundation and vision for a future of ethical and effective service leadership. At the end of the course, students who plan to participate in PSLP are asked to identify a Public Service Focus Area that they intend to engage through courses and a practicum.
• Identify an advisor to meet with quarterly throughout program to discuss goals and opportunities. This can be a faculty member, staff member, graduate student, or community member with significant experience related to the student’s Public Service Focus Area.

Requirements

The following experiences are required for completion of the Public Service Leadership Program:

• Two courses related to the student's public service focus area, at least one of which involves community-engaged learning (i.e. a Cardinal Course) or community-based research.
• Practicum: Significant experiential work related to the student's public service focus area. Can be fulfilled by Cardinal Commitment or Cardinal Quarter.
• Leadership Practice: PSLP members must undertake a leadership challenge in their Practicum. See below for details.

To synthesize their learning and leadership development from various program components, students are expected to participate in reflection sessions once a quarter throughout the program. The reflection sessions will provide an opportunity for participants to connect with each other, share what they are experiencing and learning, and learn from each other.

Leadership Practice Details

Public Service Leadership Program members must undertake a leadership challenge (i.e. a major effort to guide people to a new place) in their Practicum. The leadership challenge provides a laboratory for developing leadership skills and a personal approach to leadership, and serves as a focal point for the reflection sessions that are a part of the program. PSLP members are expected to write a reflection on their leadership challenge upon completion of the program.

Qualifying leadership challenges include:

• planning and implementing an organizational change process
• organizing a group in accomplishing an important project, goal, or process
• resolving a conflict or negotiating an agreement within your organization or between your organization and another organization
• changing the culture of your organization
• mentoring members of your organization
• planning and implementing leadership development/leadership transition efforts for members of your organization
• raising support for your organization from outside groups or significant individuals
• raising the visibility of your organization