History
There has been a volunteer office at SMU since the mid-1970s, which later merged with the SMU Women's Center. In 2003, the Leadership & Community Involvement (LCI) Office was formed which tied the community service and service-learning aspects (formerly with the Women's Center) with the leadership initiatives housed in the Student Activities Center. LCI was housed on the third floor of Hughes-Trigg in Suite 318. In August 2011, the department relocated to Suite 200 with the Hegi Family Center for Career Development and underwent a renaming process to become the Community Engagement & Leadership Center.
Mission
The Community Engagement & Leadership Center provides intentional learning opportunities and facilitates mutually beneficial relationships that support the development of students who have a lifelong commitment to ethical leadership and engaged citizenship.
Our Vision
Socially responsible leaders equipped and committed to positive change.
Our Beliefs
Within Community Engagement & Leadership, we believe that:
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Leadership and service are bound by their intrinsic relationship to each other. Service is the path to leadership.
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Leadership is a process; not a position.
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Ethics is a prerequisite for effective leadership.
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Community engagement provides opportunities for appreciating differences and fostering inclusiveness.
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Community engagement is characterized by reciprocity: a mutually rewarding relationship where all parties teach, learn, and develop.
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Beneficial community engagement initiatives are dependent upon addressing community-identified needs.
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Meaningful community service involves a balance between direct service, education, and reflection.
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Service cultivates a consciousness of self, commitment to a common purpose and citizenship through guided experiences and reflection.
Our Shared Values
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Relationships: CEL creates meaningful and mutually beneficial connections with students, faculty, staff, and the community.
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Developmental: CEL understands the importance of growth through challenging and supporting students and staff to be better citizens and leaders.
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Excellence: CEL continually challenges ourselves to improve and be more efficient, more successful, and model exemplary behavior and practices in all that we do.
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Inclusiveness: CEL welcomes, supports, and celebrates the diverse experiences and perspectives of a broad range of individuals, incorporating them into our work, culture, and ethos.
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Service: CEL strives to raise awareness of social issues through hands-on community engagement.
Learning Outcomes
Students involved with programs and services affiliated with Community Engagement & Leadership will:
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Be able to articulate the intrinsic relationship between leadership and service.
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Be able to demonstrate an understanding of societal issues.
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Are able to apply skills and knowledge to seek solutions to community issues (i.e. campus, local, global).
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Will enhance their level of self-awareness which may include values clarification, integrity, critical thinking, problem solving, accountability and goal setting/attainment.
2012 Student Leaders
LEAD President: Aliya Prasla
Mustang Heroes President: Carissa Grisham
Alternative Breaks Student Director: Katie Jones