Twenty-four York students were recognized at a special reception hosted by Vice-President Students Robert Tiffin on April 29. The event celebrated students who participated in York’s Student Leadership Development Program (SLDP). Each of the students had attended more than eight leadership workshops held in the Winter 2008 semester.
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| Above: Delegates to the York Student Leadership Development Conference pose with York VP Students Rob Tiffin (third from the left) and Frank Cappadocia, director of York’s Student Community & Leadership Development (far right) |
At the reception, Tiffin distributed letters of recognition and congratulated each of the students on their dedication to developing their leadership skills. He encouraged these students to use what they have learned by taking action to better the Keele campus and to get involved in student leadership roles.
Tiffin highlighted the origins of the program by reminding the attendees that the SLDP was designed by students for students. In 2006-2007, York’s elected student-club presidents charted the program’s course by identifying core areas for student development and prescribing that all sessions be highly interactive and dynamic.
Also on hand was Frank Cappadocia, director of York’s Student Community & Leadership Development (SC&LD), who engaged students in a dialogue about enhancing future leadership programming.
The SLDP provides students with leadership skills they can use to create a better future for themselves and their communities. Launched by SC&LD in January, it has received an overwhelming and positive response to its leadership sessions. Three days after registration began on the SLDP Web site, all sessions for the semester were filled to capacity.
Free of charge and open to all York students, each leadership session is approximately 90 minutes long and has been developed by a "York expert". More than 300 students participated in the inaugural semester with close to a third of those attending three or more sessions. Surveys and a focus group of participants have been conducted to ensure participant feedback will shape the program’s future direction.
Visit the SLDP Web site for more information, or e-mail leaders@yorku.ca.