Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership

Lead with a public purpose. Participating in our community-engaged leadership programs will challenge you to bring about the world you wish to see — now and throughout your life.

You’ll build on your interests and apply your experiences (from courses to extracurricular activities) to our program to develop the skills you need to be a community-engaged leader. We believe, and our programs reflect:

Leadership is a group process and collective attribute;
Leaders build the capacity of groups, and strengthen agency and self-determination of communities;
Leaders cultivate new leadership; and
Leaders are lifelong learners, and critical reflection is a prerequisite to lifelong learning.

You’ll strengthen professional, academic and civic skills while you learn how to:

Make the most of mentoring opportunities
Clarify your purpose, critically reflecting on what the world needs from you
Verify impact matches intent in your community and leadership activities
Improve your speaking and writing skills

Both the individual and group leadership programs culminate in a certificate. Each integrates community-engaged learning, leadership education and critical reflection. The individual and group certificates are not mutually exclusive, but rather individuals and groups can apply their activities to each certificate process at the same time.

Group Certificate

Spring office hours: Starting Feb. 1, Mike Bishop and Sarah Hazlitt are holding drop-in office hours every Monday, noon–1 p.m. These are open to anyone pursuing the group certificate or anyone interested in learning more about the program. Join Mike and Sarah via Zoom.

Groups that participate will gain stronger alignment between their mission or purpose and their day-to-day activities, coaching and mentoring by OEI staff, promotion on the OEI website and social media, group funding and more.

Read about groups that have earned the certificate:

Black Students United
Dyson Students of Color Coalition
The Ecology House
Les Femmes de Substance
H/EOP Ambassadors
Phi Delta Epsilon
Scholars in Our Society and Africa (SOSA)

Structure and Time Commitment

Groups have a full academic or calendar year to complete the program. It is possible to earn the award in one summer break or winter break + spring semester if your group already has a community partner and is committed to attending leadership workshops on a quicker timeline.

Typically, in the first semester, leadership team and active members participate in workshops and dialogues and confirm one off-campus community partner. Throughout the second semester, group members take on a project with their partner and practice critical reflection.

Leadership Education

At least 25% of leadership team AND 25% of active members attend Be the Change: Pre-engagement and Mentorship workshops (first semester).
At least 50% of leadership team participate in a 3-hour leadership dialogue (end of first semester or start of second).
One coaching session each semester, including end of year succession planning conversation with incoming team

Community Engagement

At least 50% of active members complete 20 hours each (second semester)

Critical Reflection

After every 10 hours of community engagement, your group’s Critical Reflection Facilitator – identified by you and trained and supported by OEI staff – facilitates reflection based on the “What? So what (Why)? Now what?” model with at least 75% of members who complete community engagement activities.
Your designated facilitator attends one meeting per semester. Once a semester, OEI staff will observe critical reflection to offer helpful feedback.

Getting Started

To get started, register for and attend the Orientation to Group Certificate, offered once a semester. Before attending, speak with one or two other members of your leadership team, and consider if there is a group or subgroup within your organization that might pursue the participate in the program.

(Even before formally pursuing, you can request a Be the Change Workshop for your leadership team and active members.

Group Eligibility

Any group of three students, with at least one undergraduate, can participate in the group program.

Group Funding

Groups are eligible to apply for $1,000 for their group project after taking action and holding their first critical reflection, typically in the second semester and – after meeting first-semester requirements.

Group Re-certification

After successfully earning the group certificate, a group has the opportunity to re-certify each year. By re-certifying, the group maintains a connection to the Office of Engagement Initiatives, receives specialized training on topics by request, engages in dialogue with leadership from other groups that have earned this distinction and can apply for up $1,000 annually.

Individual Certificate

The 3-stage individual program allows you to apply your community-engaged learning and leadership activities from across campus.

Read about students who have completed the certificate.

Structure and Time Commitment

Earning the certificate takes approximately one year, depending on when you commit to a community partner in Stage 2. If you already have been involved (satisfied Stage 1) by participating in 40 hours of community engagement and 4 hours of leadership education at Cornell (or another university if you are a transfer student), then you can apply to enter into Stage 2 directly after you attend a 1-hour orientation.

Stages

Stage 1: Involved

Get to know your community. Engaged Ambassador mentors can support you in finding courses, organizations and activities that fit your interests. This stage includes:

40 hours total of off-campus community engagement (research, organizing, volunteerism, service, philanthropy, etc.)
8 hours of leadership education (through our Foundations Intensive)
2 meetings with a peer mentor
2 written critical reflections
Opportunity to apply for $500 to support a group project

Stage 2: Committed

Commit to one community-based project or social issue. This stage includes:

Participation in the Community-Engaged Leadership Retreat (required for entry to this stage)
80 hours of community engagement with one project or organization
12 hours of leadership education
4 written critical reflections
4 meetings with a mentor you identify: community partner, alumnus, faculty, staff or continue with an EA
Opportunity to apply for $1,000 for your committed engagement project

Stage 3: Capstone

Develop a model of change, identify your mentorship family and create a post-capstone community-engaged leadership plan. This stage includes:

32 hours of reading, writing and dialogue over 7 weeks with 8-12 students who have completed committed projects, facilitated by Engaged Ambassadors
Opportunity to apply for a stipend up to $300, based on financial need
Opportunity to apply for up to $500 for conference coordination or travel

Beyond the Capstone

Students who complete the program and earn the certificate are invited to apply to serve as Engaged Ambassadors. A team of about 12 ambassadors coordinate every aspect of the certificate and earn a work-study wage for their 8-10 hour weekly commitment.

Getting Started

To start the individual community-engaged leadership program, schedule an orientation with an Engaged Ambassador.

If you believe that you already have satisfied Stage 1 by participating in 40 hours of community engagement and four hours of leadership education at Cornell (or another university if you are a transfer student), then you can apply to enter into Stage 2 directly after attending an orientation.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students from any school or college can participate in the individual leadership program. Graduate and professional students who are working with undergraduates are also eligible for the program.

Completing the full program and earning the certificate takes approximately one year, depending on when you enter Stage 2.

Funding

Funding for the individual is available throughout all three stages of the program. For more information, see what’s included in each stage.

For Current Participants

Useful links:

Questions?

Read about students who have completed the certificate.

Read about groups that have earned the certificate:

Black Students United
Dyson Students of Color Coalition
The Ecology House
Les Femmes de Substance
H/EOP Ambassadors
Phi Delta Epsilon
Scholars in Our Society and Africa (SOSA)

Email engagedleadership@cornell.edu.

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