GEN S 100A: University Seminar
Emerging Leaders/Freshman Leadership Connection
Fall 2014
Office: Student Life and Leadership,
Aztec Student Union, room 220
Office Hours: by appointment
(619) 594-5221
Instructors:
Robyn Adams, Ph.D.
robyn.adams@mail.sdsu.edu
Chelsea Winer
cwiner@mail.sdsu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This program is designed to help freshman student-leaders become engaged members of the San
Diego State University (SDSU) community by connecting them with faculty, staff, peers, and
involvement opportunities early in their college career. The class focuses on college transition and
leadership skills development.
COURSE FORMAT:
This course serves as a freshman leadership development program and a college transition program.
The course focuses on developing student leaders and peer mentors. Classes are divided into lecture
and small group discussions led by peer mentors. The course uses peer based mentoring to help keep
new students stay on-track academically in an intrusive-advising model.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Writing materials for assignments and notes, class syllabus, and time management planner.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Students who complete this program will:
 Develop supportive relationships with a peer mentor and small peer community group;
 Become engaged with the SDSU campus community by participation in campus endeavors
and/or organizations based on an assessment of values, interests, academic and leadership
goals;
 Develop a greater understanding of and accountability for their academic success and
leadership development;
 Become accountable for managing their own time in order to further their academic success;
 Increase their awareness of opportunities and resources available to them on campus
 Gain an understanding of involvement at the collegiate level; develop meaningful
relationships; portray self realistically;
 Distinguish personality style and traits, and those of others;
 Demonstrate an awareness of values/principles/ideals; Learn to identify when values are in
conflict;
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Identify their conflict style and understand the basics of conflict styles;
Recognize and discuss study skills and test taking strategies;
Identify risks and challenges commonly faced by leaders.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
o Your attendance and participation in class is essential for a complete learning experience.
Attendance will be taken each week.
o The type of learning that takes place as a result of social interaction between you and
your instructors, peer mentors, and classmates represents a unique learning experience
that cannot be attained on an individual basis.
o Notify the instructor before the class meets if you will be arriving late, leaving early, or missing
class entirely. Before returning to class, obtain any missed information, assignments and
handouts from another student or the instructor. You must make up any missed sessions with
alternative sessions or campus events.
o Come to each session prepared to participate. Please give all activities a personal sense of
purpose and discover different ways you can make various strategies work for you.
o Attend community events including, but not limited to, the Journey to Shared Humanity, and
other events announced in class.
o For classes in the Center for Leadership & Community Service, food and beverages are not
permitted with the exception of water bottles. Cell phones must be turned off.
ATTENDANCE:
o Attendance is required; students are expected to arrive promptly. Students can only be absent 2
class sessions total in the semester. The nature of this class requires personal reflection,
examination of values, personal growth, and mastery of course content; attendance is imperative.
ASSIGNMENTS
 Journey to Shared Humanity – You will need to turn in your reflection sheet by 11/18
o You must attend one tour of the Journey to Shared Humanity during its hours of
operation. Students need to arrive at the Tula Community Center during the hours of
operation to receive a ticket to enter. If the current tour is full upon arrival, students
will be given a ticket to return for a later tour time. Warning: Attend this program
early! Tickets do run out and not getting in because you waited until the last minute is
not an excuse
The hours of operation will be:
Sunday, November 9th from 3pm- 8pm
Monday, November 10th
Wednesday, November 12th
Thursday, November 13th
POLICIES
o Respecting the Rights of Others - It will be our policy to listen and speak respectfully. We will
work within a climate that fosters mutual respect, dialogue, and interaction. It is expected that
students will conduct themselves with prudence, courtesy, and dignity in all course-related
activities. Sexual harassment of any sort will not be tolerated during or in association with the
activities of this class. Students who wish to obtain further information regarding the campus
sexual harassment prevention policy should consult the San Diego State University Sexual
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Harassment Prevention Policy in the SDSU Senate Policy File, located on-line at
https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/universitysenate/policyfile.aspx.
o If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it
is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as
soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services.
o Class topics and locations are subject to change.
Freshman Leadership Connection Curriculum
Fall 2014
Student Life & Leadership * Division of Student Affairs * San Diego State University
Date
Large Group
Location
August 26
Welcome, Syllabus, Introductions
September 2
Get Involved Presentation & Student Panel
September 9
Time Management for Student Leaders
September 16
Leadership Values
September 23
Library Tour
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Meet outside in front of library
September 30
Leadership & Social Justice
Guest speaker
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
October 7
Conflict Styles
Guest speaker
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
October 14
Test Taking/Finals Prep
October 21
Toy Box Leadership
October 28
Personality Styles/Empowerment
Guest speaker
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
November 4
Public Speaking
Guest speaker
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
November 9,
10, 12, 13
November 11
Attend the Journey to Shared Humanity
Tula Community Center
No class due to holiday
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November 18
Counseling and Psychological Services
Guest speaker
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
*Journey to Shared Humanity reflection
sheet due today
November 25
Etiquette
December 2
SDSU Ambassador Advising – classes for
Spring
Last Class Celebration & Certificates
December 9
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
Center for Leadership & Community
Service
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