In our government, workplaces, places of worship, schools, and homes, people need to be better prepared to come together to solve problems, to lead and to contribute. The Franklin College leadership program prepares students to lead in our society by providing them with a structured learning experience and opportunities for practical application of and reflection on leadership through a Liberal Arts (LA) curriculum, specialized leadership courses and co-curricular activities.

Students at Franklin College take courses that develop their leadership skills and help them learn how they might apply those skills in a variety of real world situations. But what exactly does it mean to be a leader?

The Franklin College Leadership Center defines a leader as a person who . . .

• is self-aware,
• develops and practices ethical standards,
• works well with diverse people and
• is willing and able to take action.

These four qualities of a leader are integrated throughout courses at Franklin College in a developmental fashion culminating in the Liberal Arts Capstone course. In this course, students are required to complete a significant service-learning component, which demonstrates their development of these qualities.

Students with a special interest in leadership may pursue a Leadership Minor. This minor is a valuable complement to any major at the college. To advance in any career, students will need not only content knowledge but also the ability to work well in teams, to influence people, and to independently develop their abilities. These are the skills of a leader. They can be learned and practiced in the structured setting of an experiential, engaged classroom. Leadership classes are interactive and require students to apply theories to current problems on the campus and in the community.

A Leadership Minor requires 12 credit hours (4 courses) in leadership:

• LEA 100: Introduction to Personal Leadership Skills
• LEA 210: Foundations of Leadership
• LEA 230: Leadership: Theory and Practice
• LEA 330: Leadership in a Multicultural Context

and five additional hours selected from a specific list of courses.

Students graduating with a Leadership Minor have reported that

• When interviewing for a job, it is the most often mentioned item on their resume;
• The Peace Corps allowed the minor to substitute for a requirement of five years experience or a graduate degree; and
• An employer asked a level one employee to apply for a level three position because of his leadership minor.

Leadership classes prepare students for life-long personal development, productive personal relationships, meaningful community engagement, and career success.