About CU
Leadership Development
“We believe that effective leadership is an essential ingredient of positive social change. No society can continue to evolve without it, no family or neighborhood holds together in its absence, and no institution prospers where it is unavailable.” (William Richardson)
Leaders make a difference. They make things happen. Leaders help people accomplish their goals. Yet for several reasons “good leaders” are difficult to find.
“Good leaders” are all-too-rare in at least two ways: a) leaders who are “good” people, individuals of high moral character who represent the best in what is humanly possible, and b) leaders who are “good” at what they do, individuals who have developed leadership skills and know how to use them to accomplish worthy goals.
Ironically, while leadership is a widely recognized concept, it is also widely misunderstood. Even a quick glance through the “leadership” section of a local bookstore can leave one feeling confused by seemingly contradictory messages.
Society is looking for leadership. But the lack of a clear understanding of what constitutes good leadership creates a leadership vacuum.
Cornerstone University is stepping into this gap. The university is placing its historic commitment to development of Christian Worldview thinking and now Leadership Development at the heart of its strategic plan. During the next several years, Cornerstone University expects Christian Worldview and Leadership Development to become the key defining characteristics of the university’s programming. To that end, the university has appointed a task team charged with steering the initial stages of a “Leadership Development Initiative” as defined below:
Purpose
The purpose of the Leadership Development Initiative is to research, refine, and implement a program that will assist all Cornerstone University students in developing a desire and capacity to lead.
Assumptions
Key assumptions guiding this initiative include:
A Definition of Leading
Leading is “successful influence toward an intended goal.”
Context
The alumni and personnel of Cornerstone University will be called upon to lead in a variety of contexts, and at all levels. Therefore, the Leadership Development Initiative will target the development of:
Program
Cornerstone University will accomplish these goals through a multi-stage program, which will combine both classroom learning and significant experience, all under the careful guidance of trained facilitators, mentors, and faculty.
Emerging Leaders: During the Freshman year, students will be challenged to consider the role of Leadership and Christian Worldview in their CU experience as they anticipate the next four years of their education. During the first year these challenges will take place in the classroom and through guided service to the community, laying a foundation for future leadership experience for these “emerging leaders.”
Leadership Mentoring Groups: During the Sophomore year, students will participate in intensive leadership mentoring. The format for this experience is weekly meetings of learning, discussion, and significant service to the community. Through the experience of service, students learn key leadership skills such as group communication, planning and implementing a project, and conflict management. The trained facilitators-faculty, staff, and friends of CU, will help the students learn from these experiences through guided discussion, selected readings, and interactions with other leaders.
Leadership Service: During the Junior year, students will be challenged to participate in actual leadership service in a variety of contexts. Many students will serve in leadership positions on the campus of Cornerstone University. Still others will have leadership positions at churches, businesses, community agencies, and in their internships. This “real life” experience will further hone their understanding of leadership and God’s calling in their lives because it is built upon a firm foundation of the experiences in the first two years of the program.
Leadership Master Class: After students have spent time learning about Leadership concepts and having both group and individual experiences in leadership service and learning, they will be challenged to look ahead to a lifetime of continued leadership development and service. They will be exposed, in small group formats, to actual leaders from the community who can help them interpret what they have learned both in the classroom and from their experiences. This will be a highly practical interaction, with specific focus on the practice of leadership. The notion of the leadership “master” refers not to the student, but to people that hold leadership positions within the local community and who can share their life experience with students.
Annual Leadership Symposium
In order to provide cutting-edge exposure to the best leadership thinking and practice, Cornerstone University will host an annual Leadership Symposium. This symposium will not only benefit the students, faculty, and staff of Cornerstone University, but also be open to the greater West Michigan community. Speakers of the highest quality will be asked to challenge students to continue throughout their lives to learn about leadership excellence, practice leadership excellence, exercise an impact on the world, and fulfill God’s calling for their lives.
Leaders make a difference. They make things happen. Leaders help people accomplish their goals. Yet for several reasons “good leaders” are difficult to find.
“Good leaders” are all-too-rare in at least two ways: a) leaders who are “good” people, individuals of high moral character who represent the best in what is humanly possible, and b) leaders who are “good” at what they do, individuals who have developed leadership skills and know how to use them to accomplish worthy goals.
Ironically, while leadership is a widely recognized concept, it is also widely misunderstood. Even a quick glance through the “leadership” section of a local bookstore can leave one feeling confused by seemingly contradictory messages.
Society is looking for leadership. But the lack of a clear understanding of what constitutes good leadership creates a leadership vacuum.
Cornerstone University is stepping into this gap. The university is placing its historic commitment to development of Christian Worldview thinking and now Leadership Development at the heart of its strategic plan. During the next several years, Cornerstone University expects Christian Worldview and Leadership Development to become the key defining characteristics of the university’s programming. To that end, the university has appointed a task team charged with steering the initial stages of a “Leadership Development Initiative” as defined below:
Purpose
The purpose of the Leadership Development Initiative is to research, refine, and implement a program that will assist all Cornerstone University students in developing a desire and capacity to lead.
Assumptions
Key assumptions guiding this initiative include:
- Postmodern culture greatly needs leaders committed to a lively Christian Worldview.
- Leadership can be learned; anyone can grow in leadership skills.
- Leadership assumes different forms in different contexts; while certain leadership skills are evidenced in virtually all leaders, there is no “given” theory of leadership.
- Leadership is concerned with fostering change.
- Leading is not confined to a formal leadership position; rather, little “l” leaders, those from all walks of life, are as important as big “L” leaders, those who may be directing organizations.
A Definition of Leading
Leading is “successful influence toward an intended goal.”
Context
The alumni and personnel of Cornerstone University will be called upon to lead in a variety of contexts, and at all levels. Therefore, the Leadership Development Initiative will target the development of:
- Leading skills
- Understanding of key issues relating to leading
- Character
Program
Cornerstone University will accomplish these goals through a multi-stage program, which will combine both classroom learning and significant experience, all under the careful guidance of trained facilitators, mentors, and faculty.
Emerging Leaders: During the Freshman year, students will be challenged to consider the role of Leadership and Christian Worldview in their CU experience as they anticipate the next four years of their education. During the first year these challenges will take place in the classroom and through guided service to the community, laying a foundation for future leadership experience for these “emerging leaders.”
Leadership Mentoring Groups: During the Sophomore year, students will participate in intensive leadership mentoring. The format for this experience is weekly meetings of learning, discussion, and significant service to the community. Through the experience of service, students learn key leadership skills such as group communication, planning and implementing a project, and conflict management. The trained facilitators-faculty, staff, and friends of CU, will help the students learn from these experiences through guided discussion, selected readings, and interactions with other leaders.
Leadership Service: During the Junior year, students will be challenged to participate in actual leadership service in a variety of contexts. Many students will serve in leadership positions on the campus of Cornerstone University. Still others will have leadership positions at churches, businesses, community agencies, and in their internships. This “real life” experience will further hone their understanding of leadership and God’s calling in their lives because it is built upon a firm foundation of the experiences in the first two years of the program.
Leadership Master Class: After students have spent time learning about Leadership concepts and having both group and individual experiences in leadership service and learning, they will be challenged to look ahead to a lifetime of continued leadership development and service. They will be exposed, in small group formats, to actual leaders from the community who can help them interpret what they have learned both in the classroom and from their experiences. This will be a highly practical interaction, with specific focus on the practice of leadership. The notion of the leadership “master” refers not to the student, but to people that hold leadership positions within the local community and who can share their life experience with students.
Annual Leadership Symposium
In order to provide cutting-edge exposure to the best leadership thinking and practice, Cornerstone University will host an annual Leadership Symposium. This symposium will not only benefit the students, faculty, and staff of Cornerstone University, but also be open to the greater West Michigan community. Speakers of the highest quality will be asked to challenge students to continue throughout their lives to learn about leadership excellence, practice leadership excellence, exercise an impact on the world, and fulfill God’s calling for their lives.
