Leadership Awards

The UW-Platteville Leadership Recognition Program began in 1991 and is designed to recognize and promote student leadership on our campus. The university hopes to motivate students to become and remain involved in leadership roles through positive reinforcement and development of their leadership skills.

Goals of the program:

1. To encourage students to become active members and subsequently make more significant contributions in the university community.
2. To strengthen the link between involvement and the retention of students.
3. To promote the concept that increased learning occurs through involvement.
4. To enhance the ability of students graduating from UW-Platteville to become successful leaders in their respective communities, thus increasing the value of their degree.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit nominations for Leadership Awards. Nominations are accepted for outstanding student leaders who have demonstrated excellence in involvement in student organizations at UWP and outstanding organizations, advisors, or support staff. The Student Leadership Awards program is typically held during the month of April.

Nomination forms become available at the beginning of spring semester preceding the presentation. All organizations and advisors receive forms in their mailboxes. Forms are usually available on disk at department offices in Microsoft Word format, in the Pioneer Involvement Center, and online. Forms can be downloaded at http://www.uwplatt.edu/pic/page/leadernomforms.html.

In the past, there has been a concern from nominators that students nominated might not be eligible for awards due to the GPA or credits. The committee suggests students be asked prior to form submission. The anonymous selection committee places each student in the proper category. Nominators should place organizations, advisors, and support staff into the appropriate categories.

In addition to the awards listed here, the UWP Alumni Association awards a scholarship to a continuing student. A list of awards and criteria follows:

Dean Linden Pioneer Achievement Award for outstanding leadership by a student.

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and must be currently enrolled for at least 12 credit hours.
• Activities from a nominee's entire college career may be included for consideration by the selection committee.
• Only one award will be presented each year.

Chancellor's Medallion Award for outstanding leadership by a senior graduating in the current academic calendar year.

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Students must have completed 90 credits at time of nomination and be graduating in May or December of the current academic year.
• Up to five awards may be presented each year.

UWP Foundation Excellence in Leadership Award for outstanding leadership by a student not graduating in the current academic year.

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and must be currently enrolled for at least 12 credit hours.
• Activities from a nominee's entire college career may be included for consideration by the selection committee.
• Up to five awards may be presented each year.

UWP Alumni Association Oak Leaf Award for Outstanding Student Governance

• The organizations eligible for this award are Student Senate, Student Activities Board, Residence Hall Association, SUFAC, SCAC, and President's Council.
• Nominations will be evaluated on the level of activity and excellence in support of shared governance demonstrated during the current academic year only.

UWP Alumni Association Oak Leaf Award for Outstanding Greek Organization

• All recognized social and social / professional Greek organizations in good standing with the university shall be eligible for this award. Professional, Honorary and Academic Greek letter organizations should be nominated for the outstanding club/organization award.
• Nominations will be evaluated on the level of activity and excellence demonstrated during the current academic year only.

UWP Alumni Association Oak Leaf Award for Outstanding Student Club/Organization

• Any recognized UWP student club or organization currently in good standing with the university shall be eligible for this award (with the exception of those eligible for the Greek or Governance Award)
• Nominations will be evaluated on the level of activity and excellence demonstrated during the current academic year only.

Outstanding Advisor to a Student Organization

• Faculty, staff, or community member recognized as functioning in a primary, advisory role to a recognized student organization.

Outstanding Support Staff Person to a Student Organization

• Faculty or staff providing important support, but who are not advisors to a recognized student organization.

UWP Alumni Association Super Senior/Honorary Life Membership Award

The Alumni Association recognizes several graduates each commencement for their outstanding academic, campus, personal and professional achievements by awarding them a life membership in the Association.

If you have questions, please contact a Leadership Development Coordinator, Pioneer Involvement Center, 342-1075.

Volunteering at UWP

Pioneer H.E.L.P. -- Hands Enriching Lives in Platteville

Many organizations and individuals volunteer their time for various charitable organizations in the area. Volunteering is a great way to contribute to the community we live in.

Pioneer H.E.L.P. is a committee within Student Activities designed to encourage campus volunteering and to provide resources to help link individuals and groups with volunteer opportunities. In addition, it will help promote the positive impact UWP students, faculty and staff are having on the community.

A printed guide lists more than 50 area agencies or programs that are interested in working with UWP students, staff and faculty. To request a copy, please call Pioneer Involvement Center, 342.1075. It can also be found on the web at: http://www.uwplatt.edu/pic/page/pioneerhelp.html.

Things to consider before your group makes a commitment

Think about what you want. Make a list of skills, talents, interests and issues that concern the group, the type of work the group can do, and how much time you all have to give. The more information you can provide, the better community agencies will be able to help match your organization with an appropriate volunteer opportunity.

Be flexible. It's rare to find an absolutely "perfect" volunteer job. Rarer still, for an organization of many different personalities to be satisfied with the same experience. Don't give up. Keep looking and you'll find something that you will enjoy. Keep an open mind - you never know when you'll discover interests in areas you never suspected!

Be responsible.

• Show up on time, dress appropriately, and call the agency if you are going to be late or absent. People may be depending on you!
• Follow the rules and guidelines. Communicate any problems to the agency.
• Be reliable, flexible, and willing to learn.

Some UWP organizations have a long-standing history of supporting one or more charities. These groups probably have many files and a lot of information on how their events operate. What a great resource! Ask these groups how they got started, what keeps them motivated, and if they have any advice for a group starting a new project.

Community Service Report

UWP is very interested in what work you or your group has done in the community. In order to create a database of service projects, it is important for organizations to celebrate what has been accomplished. As soon as possible following completion of a project, please download and print a Community Service Report (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader), fill it out, and return it to the PSC Pioneer Involvement Center.

If You're A Committee Chair...

Being an active member of an organization probably means that you have attended zillions of meetings. You've probably also found yourself thinking, "If I were chairing this committee, I'd do things differently." One of these days you may get your chance.

What is the role of a chairperson? Every organization will assign some specific responsibilities to those who chair committees, but some functions are universal regardless of the type of committee involved.

Usually, the chair has a major role in recruiting committee members and making sure that newcomers are brought up to speed. You can be most effective if you tell the truth about the amount of work you expect from committee members. It does you little good to convince someone to join by minimizing the effort required. Have written job descriptions describing the role of the committee and each member. Develop a plan for orienting newcomers, such as teaming them up with an experienced member.

The chairperson also recognizes and conducts committee meetings. This includes several critical tasks:

1. Determine the agenda: Select the most important things to discuss, make sure they can be handled in the time available, and sequence them logically.
2. Watch the clock: Start on time, move through the agenda efficiently (but do not rush important items), leave time to review decisions made and tasks assigned, and end on time.
3. Facilitate the discussion: Make sure that everyone has a chance to speak, limit those who tend to monopolize discussions, maintain an open, welcoming tone, contain (but do not stifle) disagreements. The chairperson also serves as a good listener and helps to restate important points, synthesize different comments, and clarify differences of opinion.
4. Assure that decisions are reached: Sense when enough discussion has occurred, call for vote and do not move onto another subject until you have closed the topic at hand.
5. Recognize the contributions of members: Thank members for their reports and efforts and acknowledge special accomplishments.

Equally important as your role at meetings is follow-up between meetings. As chair, you need to contact absent members to urge participation and to learn about their progress on assigned tasks. You can also motivate members and offer help on work to be done. Committee members will most likely want you to be accessible to answer questions.

There is one more important responsibility of a chairperson: Representing the committee to the sponsoring organization. This means reporting the work of your members to the larger organization and, in turn, keeping your committee informed about the organization's decisions, resources, and activities. You are the primary advocate for your committee's point of view and recommendations.

The Art of Leadership

Simply and plainly defined, leaders are people who have followers. Leaders deserve to have followers. They have earned recognition. Authority alone is no longer enough to command respect.

Leaders are great servants. The ideal of leadership in a democracy is addressed in the Bible with, "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."

Leaders see things through the eyes of their followers. They put themselves in their shoes and help them make their dreams come true.

Leaders do not say, "Get going!" Instead they say, "Let's go!", and lead the way. They do not walk behind with a whip, but out in front with a banner.

Leaders assume that their followers are working with them, not for them. They consider them partners in the work and see to it that they share in the rewards. They glorify the team spirit.

Leaders duplicate themselves in others. They are people builders. They help those under them grow big because they realize that the more big people an organization has the stronger it will be.

Leaders do not hold people down, they believe in them, trust them and thus draw out the best in them. They have found that people rise to their high expectation.

Leaders use their hearts as well as their heads. After they have looked at the facts with their head, they let their heart take a look too. They are not only a boss, but also a friend.

Leaders are self-starters. They create plans and set them in motion. They are both people of thought and of action - both dreamers and doers.

Leaders have a sense of humor. They are not stuffed shirts. They can laugh at themselves. They have a humble spirit.

Leaders can be led. They are not interested in having their own way, but in finding the best way. They have an open mind.

Leaders keep their eyes on high goals. They strive to make the efforts of their followers and themselves contribute to the enrichment of personality, the achievement of more abundant living for all and the improvement of civilization.

Ten Commandments of Leadership

1. SEARCH for challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate, and improve.
2. EXPERIMENT take risks and learn from the accompanying mistakes.
3. ENVISION an uplifting and ennobling future.
4. ENLIST others in a common vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes, and dreams.
5. FOSTER collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
6. STRENGTHEN others by sharing information and power and increasing their discretion and visibility.
7. SET an example for others by behaving in ways that are consistent with your stated values.
8. PLAN small wins that promote consistent progress and build commitment.
9. RECOGNIZE individual contributions to the success of every project.
10. CELEBRATE team accomplishments regularly.

Leadership

• Leadership: Live the life of a leader - look the part. Be Happy!
• Enthusiasm: It's contagious! Be a spark plug!!
• Approachable: Let yourself be a person others can talk with easily, someone they feel comfortable with.
• Delegating: Be able to seek out others and utilize their strengths.
• Encouraging: Help instill confidence in others.
• Respect: Others' rights, ideas, and property and they will respect yours.
• Supportive: We're all in this together - let's back each other.
• Helpful: Be willing to lend a helping hand - everyone could use one!
• Inspiring: Help get creative juices flowing - don't hinder them.
• Positive attitude: Remain optimistic (even if it's gloomy). Things have a way of working out. Think about the GOOD, not the bad!

50 Ways to Experience Diversity

1. Read Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
2. Hold hands publicly with someone of a different race or someone of the same sex as you.
3. Turn out all the lights in your room, and try to get out of bed and get dressed in the dark.
4. Try a food from a different culture that you've never tasted before.
5. Talk to your professors about the racist/sexist/homophobic language they use in class.
6. Volunteer for an organization whose members, or the people they work with, are different from you.
7. Talk to a gay, lesbian, or an interracial couple about their relationship.
8. Watch a television show with the sound off, and see how much you actually understand.
9. Ask someone of Hispanic origin which word he or she prefers to use: Hispanic, Chicano, Latino, Mexican-American, etc., and why that word is chosen.
10. Choose a passage and substitute a feminine pronoun for each nonspecific masculine pronoun.
11. Sit down at a cafeteria or classroom table with people of a different race and introduce yourself.
12. Ask your friends or co-workers to stop telling bigoted jokes in your presence.
13. Make plans to attend a march, protest or rally in support of another group's rights.
14. Refuse to go to a bar or restaurant that you know has discriminatory practices.
15. Listen to some music that represents a different culture.
16. Write a letter to a member of Congress or a state representative in support of hate crimes legislation or other bills that would increase protection for minorities.
17. Talk with a close friend about racism/sexism/homophobia, and honestly examine your own feelings.
18. Stop asking your co-worker to get the coffee, type or take notes, just because she's a woman.
19. Learn some American Sign Language, the language of the deaf.
20. Write down ten stereotypes you have about different minorities, then write down ways you can rid yourself of them.
21. Ask an international student about his/her home country.
22. Read a book that represents or educates about a different culture.
23. Make a commitment to attend a cross-cultural program before the end of the school year.
24. When you walk alone at night, think how your safety might be impacted if you were a minority.
25. Attend a religious service of a different faith or culture.
26. Request that out-of-class meetings and trips be held in locations accessible to disabilities.
27. Write a television station to compliment or criticize their coverage of minority issues.
28. Read a magazine focusing on issues and concerns of a particular minority.
29. Take a quiz testing your awareness of minority cultures.
30. Write a letter to your local newspaper about your experience as a minority in the community.
31. Rent a movie with a focus on minority culture, watch it with friends, and talk about it afterward.
32. Sign up for a language or culture-oriented class.
33. Rent a wheelchair for the day and try to follow your regular routine.
34. Contact a business to comment on how diversity is positively or negatively represented in their advertising.
35. Join an international pen-pal program.
36. Ask a Native American about his or her tribal affiliation.
37. Work to eliminate words from your speech that have racist, sexist, or homophobic connotations.
38. Investigate the contributions minorities have made to your area of specialty.
39. Come out to someone new and tell about your significant other.
40. Ask an Asian Pacific American about their heritage: Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, etc.
41. Stop assuming that all men have girlfriends or wives and all women have boyfriends or husbands, and adjust your language accordingly.
42. Go to the Ethnic Minority Cultural and Educational Center and talk to students using the services.
43. Request the removal of culturally insensitive graffiti wherever you see it.
44. Go to a toy store and investigate the availability of racially diverse dolls.
45. Learn the words to "We Shall Overcome."
46. Talk with your parents about how they taught or didn't teach you to value diversity.
47. Call into a radio talk show and introduce the subject of racism, sexism, or homophobia.
48. Make a list of ten things unique to your culture and share them with someone who wants to learn about them.
49. When you go out, dance with someone of a different race or the same sex.
50. Take part in another immersion activity.

The preceding lists suggestions for minority and majority group members alike to explore the diversity and uniqueness among individuals in our society. Please do not feel limited by them-they are designed to stimulate your thoughts and expand your horizons. We hope that by individually participating in one or more of the above activities, you will approach diversity in an increasingly positive way, by seeing the world through the eyes of others.