Promoting volunteerism, helping students excel: New College leadership program

With September just around the corner, balancing academic and volunteer commitments will once again become a way of life for many U of T students.

With this in mind, New College has revamped its Leadership Certificate Program, to ensure students have the skills they need to excel at both.

Created in 2009, the free program combines leadership workshops with community volunteerism. Not only do students get the opportunity to learn to be effective leaders, they have the chance to contribute to the community, and learn how to market their experiences to potential graduate schools and employers.

“The revised composition of the Leadership Certificate Program is far more student-friendly,” says Jill Charnaw-Burger, assistant director, Student Life and Leadership. “It’s tailored to student needs and schedules. It accommodates both those who live on campus and those who commute. It helps students grow their co-curricular record and resumé while not taking anything away from their first priority, which is their education. In fact, the intention is to enhance and boost their academic abilities.”

Traditionally, the program had provided general-purpose leadership development workshops for all New College students. New this September, based on student feedback, a second stream has been added for those who are already active volunteer leaders. (Think: orientation volunteers, student council members and student club and course union executives.)

To make it easier for busy students to attend and complete the program, the sessions will be condensed into a single workshop offered multiple times a year. The workshop will focus on teaching the leadership skills and knowledge students need to navigate the challenges of their particular volunteer positions, as well as relate those skills to their academic work.

One constant from years past: students will still need to give at least 10 hours of their time to the community, either at New College or beyond. That aspect of the program has been consistently popular with students.

Yasmine Abdelaal, a third-year student who is pursuing a double major in neuroscience and cell & molecular biology, received her Leadership Certificate in March. Abdelaal earned her requisite community hours by volunteering for Supporting Education, Empowerment, and Development through Science (S.E.E.D.S.). Through S.E.E.D.S., she helped run an eight-week-long program at two Toronto public schools which covered mental, physical and oral health as well as nutrition.

"My experience in [the Leadership Certificate Program] not only developed my leadership skills but also helped me to boost my confidence and self-esteem,” Abdelaal says. “All the workshops I attended pinpointed strengths I didn’t realize [I had]. Now, I feel more confident during presentations, while interacting with other team members and when applying to medical school.”

The program is also introducing a new annual leadership and professional development conference: You Beyond New. Geared to students who are interested in leadership opportunities but haven’t yet found their niche, it will also allow seasoned student leaders to lead sessions and share their knowledge with their peers.

Iulia Sandru, a third-year Life Sciences student who also received her Certificate this spring, echoed Abdelaal’s sentiments.

“This program helped me understand [who] I am and what I can do,” says Sandru, who volunteered as an assistant leader at Scouts Canada. “The skills I am learning both at Scouts and in this program go hand in hand and make me realize what leadership means to me and how I can be a good and effective leader.”

Sandru says the workshops helped prepare her for her future career – and Charnaw-Burger hopes that will be the experience of the more than 160 students who are expected to participate in the program this year.

"We want to ensure our graduates are well-rounded, employable emerging leaders,” says Charnaw-Burger. “With a U of T degree in hand, combined with leadership experience from this program, we are well on our way to securing their futures.”