EDAD 1130: Foundations of Leadership
Fall 2012
Instructors: Seth Ressl, Director, Student Activities, seth@uta.edu
Kelli Vincent, Program Coordinator, Student Activities, kvincent@uta.edu
Office Number: The Leadership Center, UC, Lower Level, 160
Office Telephone Number: 817/272-9234 – Fraternity and Sorority Life
Office Hours: By appointment only.
Section Information: EDAD 1130, Section 3
Time and Place of Class Meetings: Science Hall Room 315
Monday 1:00 - 1:50pm
Description of Course Content: EDAD 1130 is a one-credit hour course, designed to give students an
understanding of the fundamentals of leadership. This training will prepare students to become effective
leaders and to provide the necessary leadership skills for their professional careers. The course will
integrate foundational concepts to assist students in identifying the necessary skills for effective
leadership in university organizations and in both personal and professional settings. Topics include:
leadership vs. management communication, leadership styles and personality traits, emotionally
intelligent leadership, ethical leadership, leadership and change, and diversity and cultural awareness.
Opportunities are provided for group problem solving, and team interaction and collaboration. This course
is an elective only and does not count as part of the professional certification requirements. Pass-Fail
grades will be awarded.
Student Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course, students will be able to:
 Articulate their vision of leadership and how it influences their roles as student leaders.
 Understand some of the basic foundational skills needed to be successful in their roles as student
leaders.
 Students will be able articulate their leadership style and how it influences their roles as student
leaders.
 Reflect on how their leadership can influence their local communities by examining leadership
from a global perspective.
Required Textbooks and Other Course Materials: Material will be provided via Blackboard where all
readings and other course content will be posted. Students are responsible for bringing required
materials to class.
 Peter G. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, Second Edition
(Chapters will be uploaded to Blackboard)
Other Requirements: Students enrolled in the course must acquire a mentor for a class assignment in
which they will have to shadow their mentor for a day at least.
Descriptions of major assignments and examinations:
All assignments will be submitted using Blackboard before class time on the due date. Refer to
the Discussion tab in Blackboard for all assignment descriptions, and to submit your assignments. If your
assignments are not submitted on time, the option to submit online will close and you will not be able to
turn in your assignment. Assignments turned in late on the day of class will be deducted five points; any
other assignments turned in the next day will be deducted 10 points and so forth. If you are having any
trouble submitting an assignment, please do not wait until the last minute to e-mail your instructors. Let
us know as soon as possible so we are aware of the situation and can assist you. Late assignments will
not be accepted. The use of proper grammar and spelling will be considered during the grading of all
assignments.
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Blog submissions: Each blog submission should be posted to Blackboard before class on
the due date. Blogs should be written using correct grammar and spelling and be at least four
sentences in length unless otherwise stated.
Shadow your Mentor reflection paper: The purpose of this assignment is to learn about and
observe leadership outside the classroom. Spend time observing your mentor in a leadership
capacity and reflect on the guiding questions handed out in class. You should try to use this time
to learn more about your own leadership through the experiences of your mentor and to reflect on
what you are learning about your own leadership journey. The paper should be at least 2 pages
in length, double spaced, 12pt. font.
Revised Resume: For this assignment, all students must make an appointment with the Career
Center (located in Davis Hall, Room 216) to review your resume. Students will submit a copy of
both the original resume with revisions and the final resume after revisions. Your resume can be
tailored for a possible leadership position in an organization or for a job related to your major.
Group Leadership Book Proposal: The purpose of this assignment is for you to develop your
own understanding of the important aspects of being an effective leader while also implementing
newly developed or refined skills in a group setting. As a group you will propose an outline for a
new book about leadership that includes five chapters, or key topics, that will include a brief
synopsis of what material these chapters will cover. You will be turning in one book proposal for
the group which should include all portions specified in the book proposal guidelines handout, as
well as presenting the book to the class (approximately 10 to 15 minute presentation).
Extra Credit Volunteer Project: any student may choose to complete this extra credit
assignment to earn points. Students must volunteer two hours at a local agency and turn in
documentation for the project. This project must be completed and documentation turned in by
December 5th. Volunteer Project documentation is available on Blackboard. Service projects
should be approved by Seth and/or Kelli before the service is performed for credit.
Extra Credit/Chapter 5: any student may choose to read Chapter 5 from the text (see the course
materials’ Extra Credit folder on Blackboard), and respond to the reflection questions. A Word
document will need to be submitted to the Extra Credit folder in the Course Materials section of
Blackboard.
Attendance: Attendance is considered as a part of your class participation grade, as class participation
is crucial to your success and learning in this course. Please see the Grading section of the syllabus for
further information on how attendance is considered as a part of your class participation grades.
Grading: The class is a Pass/Fail course, and passing the class will be dependent upon earning a
certain amount of points for each assignment and class participation. Please see the breakdown of points
below for passing the class. Students are expected to keep track of their performance throughout the
semester and seek guidance from available sources (including the instructor) if their performance drops
below satisfactory levels.
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Class Participation: Class participation is highly crucial to your success and learning in this
course. The breakdown of class participation points follows:
 Blackboard participation points: you must log in at least twice a week to receive
Blackboard participation points. These points are worth three points a week.
 Class participation points: these will also be awarded for attendance in class and
punctuality, course readings, participation in discussions and bringing necessary
materials to class (such as class introductions, inspirational quotes, etc.). These
participation points will be worth 2 points per week.
Due Date
All Semester
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 28
November 5
November 12
November 26
November 26
December 3
Assignment
Participation Points
Blog #1: What is your definition of Leadership?
Blog #2: Historical person
Blog #3: True Colors results
Blog #4: Compare/contrast True Colors results with styles of
leadership discussed in Chapter 3
Blog #5: Social Justice discussion reflection questions
Blog # 6: Task/Relationship styles
Blog #7: Six Pillars of Character (long-standing habits)
Blog #8: Personal Mission Statements
Revised Resume due
Blog #9: Movie Review
Blog #10: Most/Least effective in overcoming obstacles
Shadow Your Mentor paper
Group Book Proposal submissions & presentation (50 pts each)
Extra Credit: Volunteer 2 hours in the local community
Points Available
85 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
100 points
50 Points
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Mid-semester points total: At mid-semester, you will be provided with how many points you
have accumulated as well as how many you should have in order to pass. This way you will know
where you stand with the course, and what you will need to do to complete the semester, allowing
you to pass the course.
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End of semester points total: A minimum of 600 points is needed in order to pass the class.
Failing to complete a key assignment (worth 100 points) will result in a failing grade for the class.
Grade Grievances: Any appeal of a grade in this course must follow the procedures and deadlines for
grade-related grievances as published in the current undergraduate catalog.
http://wweb.uta.edu/catalog/content/general/academic_regulations.aspx#10
Expectations for Out-of-Class Study: Beyond the time required to attend each class meeting, students
enrolled in this course should expect to spend at least an additional 3 hours per week of their own time in
course-related activities, including reading required materials, completing assignments, preparing for
class activities/projects, etc.
Academic Resources: The University of Texas at Arlington provides a variety of resources and
programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better
understand concepts and information related to their courses. These resources include tutoring, majorbased learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling and
federally funded programs. For individualized referrals to resources for any reason, students may contact
the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107 or visit www.uta.edu/resources for more information.
Drop Policy: Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through
self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period through the late registration period.
After the late registration period, students must see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw.
Undeclared students must see an advisor in the University Advising Center. Drops can continue through
a point two-thirds of the way through the term or session. It is the student's responsibility to officially
withdraw if they do not plan to attend after registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for
non-attendance. Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be
required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. For more information, contact the Office of
Financial Aid and Scholarships (http://wweb.uta.edu/ses/fao).
Americans with Disabilities Act: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed
to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). All instructors at UT Arlington are required by law to provide "reasonable
accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Any
student requiring an accommodation for this course must provide the instructor with official
documentation in the form of a letter certified by the staff in the Office for Students with Disabilities,
University Hall 102. Only those students who have officially documented a need for an accommodation
will have their request honored. Information regarding diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining
disability-based academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability or by calling the
Office for Students with Disabilities at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity: All students enrolled in this course are expected to adhere to the UT Arlington
Honor Code:
I pledge, on my honor, to uphold UT Arlington’s tradition of academic integrity, a tradition that values hard
work and honest effort in the pursuit of academic excellence.
I promise that I will submit only work that I personally create or contribute to group collaborations, and I
will appropriately reference any work from other sources. I will follow the highest standards of integrity and
uphold the spirit of the Honor Code.
Instructors may employ the Honor Code as they see fit in their courses, including (but not limited to)
having students acknowledge the honor code as part of an examination or requiring students to
incorporate the honor code into any work submitted. Per UT System Regents’ Rule 50101, §2.2,
suspected violations of university’s standards for academic integrity (including the Honor Code) will be
referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Violators will be disciplined in accordance with University
policy, which may result in the student’s suspension or expulsion from the University.
Student Support Services: UT Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help
students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and
information related to their courses. Resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers,
developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs.
For individualized referrals, students may visit the reception desk at University College (Ransom Hall),
call the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107, send a message to resources@uta.edu, or view the
information at www.uta.edu/resources.
Electronic Communication: UT Arlington has adopted MavMail as its official means to communicate
with students about important deadlines and events, as well as to transact university-related business
regarding financial aid, tuition, grades, graduation, etc. All students are assigned a MavMail account and
are responsible for checking the inbox regularly. There is no additional charge to students for using this
account, which remains active even after graduation. Information about activating and using MavMail is
available at http://www.uta.edu/oit/cs/email/mavmail.php.
Student Feedback Survey: At the end of each term, students enrolled in classes categorized as lecture,
seminar, or laboratory shall be directed to complete a Student Feedback Survey (SFS). Instructions on
how to access the SFS for this course will be sent directly to each student through MavMail
approximately 10 days before the end of the term. Each student’s feedback enters the SFS database
anonymously and is aggregated with that of other students enrolled in the course. UT Arlington’s effort to
solicit, gather, tabulate, and publish student feedback is required by state law; students are strongly
urged to participate. For more information, visit http://www.uta.edu/sfs.
Final Review Week: A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long
sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students
sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities
such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research
problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless
specified in the class syllabus. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations
constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In
addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. During
this week, classes are held as scheduled. In addition, instructors are not required to limit content to topics
that have been previously covered; they may introduce new concepts as appropriate.
Classroom Participation Policy: College level behavior, courteousness, and attentiveness are
expected from each student. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic equipment.
Students that neglect to turn off their phones will be asked to leave class for the remainder of the class
period and will be assessed absence deductions accordingly. Put away newspapers, magazines and
assignments from other classes before the beginning of class. Each student is expected to keep up with
course assignments, readings, and to attend class. An attitude of cooperation, a willingness to contribute
ideas and experiences, and openness to new concepts and theories will enhance your collegiate
experience.
Disruptions and/or distractions to the learning environment are not acceptable. Students who interfere
with learning will be asked to leave class immediately and to schedule a conference with instructors to
discuss re-admission to class. Students with behavior or attitudes deemed inappropriate to the university
setting will be referred to the Office of Community Standards.
Course Schedule:
Date/ Week
Week 1
August 22nd
Topic
No Class
Week 2
August 27th
Welcome
Week 3
September 3rd
Chapter 1
Being a
Leader
Week 4
September 10th
Chapter 2
Recognizing
Your Traits
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Week 5
September 17th
Chapter 3
Styles of
Leadership
Course Assignments/ Outline
Due today:
 N/A
Class outline:
 N/A
Due today:
 N/A
Class outline:
 Staff/Student Introductions
 Group Assignments/Icebreakers
 Blackboard Introduction/Syllabus Review/Class
Expectations
Due today:
 Bring your favorite Leadership quote to class.
 Chapter 1 Reading
 Blog assignment #1: What is your definition of leadership?
Class outline:
 Chapter 1 Discussion
 Conceptualizing Leadership Questionnaire
 Class Activity: Inspirational Quotes
 Group Assignment: “The View” research
Due today:
 Group Research for “The View”
 Chapter 2 Reading
 Blog assignment #2: Blog about your team’s historical
person for “The View” activity.
Class outline:
 Chapter 2 Discussion
 Class activity: “The View”
 Take home assignment: True Colors
Due today:
 Chapter 3 reading
 True Colors Assessment
 Blog assignment #3: Blog about your True Colors results
Week 6
September 24th
Chapter 3
Cont.
Cross Cultural
Discussion
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Week 7
October 1st
Chapter 4
Tasks vs.
Relational
Week 8
October 8th
Chapter 11
Addressing
Ethics in
Leadership
Week 9
October 15th
Chapter 6
Creating a
vision for your
Leadership
Week 10
October 22nd
(mid-semester)
Chapter 7
Resume and
Selling your
Experience
Week 11
October 29th
Chapter 8
Listening to
out- group
members
Week 12
November 5th
Chapter 9
Handling
conflict
Class outline:
 True Colors discussion with Kerri Ressl
Due today:
 Blog assignment #4: Discuss the styles of leadership
presented in Chapter 3, and compare to your True Colors
results.
Class outline:
 Social Justice Leadership Presented by Rashad Givhan
Due today:
 Chapter 4 reading
 Blog assignment #5: Blog about the social justice
discussion from the previous week (reflection questions to
be distributed).
Class outline:
 Introduce Shadow Your Mentor & Group Book Proposal
assignments
 Chapter 4 discussion
 Class activity: “And the winner is . . . “
Due today:
 Chapter 11 reading
 Bring newspaper/magazine clippings examples of
ethical/non-ethical leadership
 Blog assignment #6: I would rather work for a taskoriented (or relationship-oriented) leader because…
Class outline:
 Chapter 11 Discussion
 Class Activity: Current events in leadership
Due today:
 Chapter 6 reading
 Blog assignment #7: What long-standing habits are not
helping you develop the six pillars of character?
Class outline:
 Personal Mission Statements Presented by Kerri Ressl
Due today:
 Chapter 7 reading
 Blog assignment #8: Personal Mission Statements
Class outline:
 How to sell your leadership/ fine tuning your resume
Presented by The Career Center (Mike Taddesse)
Due today:
 Chapter 8 reading
 Revised Resume due
Class outline:
 Chapter 8 discussion
 Complete the Responding to members of the Out-Group
Questionnaire in class.
 Class Activity/Group discussion
Due today:
 Blogging Assignment #9: Movie Review
 Chapter 9 reading
Class outline:
 Complete the Conflict Styles Questionnaire in class
 Chapter 9 discussion
 Class Activity: Conflict Bingo
Week 13
November 12th
Chapter 10
Overcoming
Obstacles
Due today:
 Chapter 10 reading
Class outline:
 Chapter 10 Discussion
 Class Activity: Group Juggling
Week 14
Thanksgiving Due today:
November 19th
Holiday
 Blog assignment #10: Based on the obstacles discussed in
(No Class)
the text, which obstacles would you be most and least
effective at addressing? Why?
 Class outline:
 Work on your Group Book Proposal
 Complete Shadow Your Mentor assignment
Week 15
Portfolios
Due today:
November 26th
Presented in
 Shadow Your Mentor assignment
Class/
 Group Book Proposal
Evaluations
Class outline:
 Group Book Proposal presentations
Week 16
Portfolios
Due today:
December 3rd
Presented in
 Group Book Proposal
Class
Class outline:
 Group Book Proposal presentations
Final Exam
Due today:
Week
 Group Book Proposal
December 10th
Class outline:
 Group Book Proposal presentations
 Group Reflections
 Class Evaluations
“As the instructors for this course, we reserve the right to adjust this schedule in any way that serves the
educational needs of the students enrolled in this course. –Seth Ressl and Kelli Vincent.”