For the first time, the LeaderShape program, a five to six day leadership skills retreat, is now open to all undergraduate Washington University students not graduating in 2006.
Until this year, the program was available exclusively through the School of Engineering, but now it is being offered through the Office of Student Activities (OSA).
“The reason that the Engineering School had it is because they were the ones who found out about it, wanted it, got the grant for it, etc.,” said Marci Colb, who coordinates student involvement. “So there’s no real reason why it was in the Engineering School, which is why it’s been opened up.”
Colb expects the application process to become more competitive because more students are expected to apply, but the number of spaces will remain at 60, half of which are reserved for engineering students.
“In the past, I think the highest attendence rate was 42, and that was last year…So what that means, by opening it up, we have the ability to fill those extra 20 spots,” said Colb. “We’ve done a lot more marketing and a lot more outreach than in the past.We have over 60 people who have started applications.so our assumption is that we’ll have more than 60.”
The initial uncertainty surrounding the change occurred because the program is partially funded by the Watts Scholarship, which is given exclusively to engineering students. Since the switch to OSA, some engineers were confused about whether the scholarship would still apply to the $100 program fee.
“I think there haven’t been problems, just a little bit of confusion about what’s been going on this year,” said senior Kelly O’Shea, an engineering student and past participant in the LeaderShape program.
Colb elaborated on this, citing issues related to the scholarship.
“There is a Watts Scholarship fund.we have 30 scholarships available for engineering students so these students don’t have to pay the $100 registration fee,” said Colb.
Engineering students still have to submit a $100 security deposit, but it will be refunded after they participate in the program, so ultimately these students do not pay to attend the program.
Since 1997, a group of Washington University students have participated in the LeaderShape program.
“It was great. It was low stress where you got to go hang out with a whole bunch of engineers who were all working [on a project],” said O’Shea. “I definitely got a lot of progress done on my project – and it was also just a great way to meet other people who were also interested in school activities.”
O’Shea explained that every participant in LeaderShape has a project, whether it be working on engineering orientation or the Spark calendar (both past projects). Each day at the program has a theme, and that, along with the support and help of others, helps students “take a vision and turn it into reality.”
O’Shea explained that University students participated in a national program in 1996, but have been continuing with the current program since 1997. Applications for the retreat, which will be held May 12-17 in Columbia, Ill., are due today by 5 p.m.
-With additional reporting by Caroline Wekselbaum