leadership development: how a student organization develops leadership skills for careers in the...
DESCRIPTION
This session will present the findings from a study conducted to determine how the decisions and actions of students based on the depth and breadth of participation in a student association impacts their perception of their own learning and leadership development in the area of nonprofit management. Dr. Julianne Gassman, Assistant Professor and Executive Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and Angela Widner, Instructor and Assistant Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, both at the University of Northern IowaTRANSCRIPT
Leadership Development
How a Student Organization Develops Leadership Skills for Careers in the Nonprofit Sector
Introductions
Dr. Julianne GassmanAssociate Professor, University of Northern IowaExecutive Director, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
Angela WidnerInstructor, University of Northern IowaAssistant Director, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
Poll Practice!
“Certified Nonprofit Professional”(CNP)
Get Certified to Change the World
www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, founded in 1948 as American Humanics, is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations. We are the only national organization certifying future and current nonprofit managers and leaders according to nationally-validated nonprofit sector workforce preparation standards.
Our students meet rigorous academic and experiential requirements, preparing them for nonprofit sector employment.
www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
NLA National Nonprofit Partners
Requirements
• Completion of 10 Nonprofit Competencies• Nonprofit Internship – 300 Hours• Leadership & Service Activities• Bachelor's Degree• AMI Attendance
www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org
Earning the CNP Credential (Certified Nonprofit Professional)
www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org
Communication, Marketing & PR
Cultural Competency and Diversity
Financial Resource Development & Management
Foundations & Management of the Nonprofit Sector
Governance, Leadership & Advocacy
Legal & Ethical Decision Making
Personal & Professional Development
Program Development
Volunteer and Human Resource Management
Future of the Nonprofit Sector
The Key Competencies
Research Question
How does involvement in the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Association contribute to the learning and leadership development of students?
Methodology Survey constructed in Survey Monkey N=743 Reported Frequencies.
Conducted a Kruskal Wallis H test and reported significance at the .05 level.
Development of Competencies
Number of Semesters Student Association Level of Involvement Activities Frequency of Meetings
Conducted a Mann-Whitney U Post-Hoc test and reported significance at the .0167 level.
Overview of Demographics
78% Female 40% Alumni, 25%
Senior
30% Nonprofit Management Major,
12% Pub Ad & Social Sciences
Semesters Involved 21% 2 and 4 semesters 15% 1 semester 16% 3 semesters
Level of Involvement 15% minimally 45% average 40% highest
Frequencies of SA Meetings 30% once a week 30% 2x a month 34% once a month
Conducted a Kruskal Wallis H test and reported significance at the .05 level.
How the Development of Competencies are influenced by involvement in the Student Association associated with:Number of Semesters InvolvedLevel of InvolvementHow Often Student Association Meets
Conducted a Mann-Whitney U Post-Hoc test and reported significance at the .0167 level.
Poll Time!
What do you think is the optimal number of semesters a student should be involved in a student organization to achieve the learning objectives of that organization?
Major Findings
Students involved at least 3 semesters report association more helpful with development of competencies (no significance between 4 & 5 semesters).
Diversity competency no significance at 5+ semesters compared to 1-2 semesters.
Employability Skills significant at all levels.
Major Findings Students involved on average level and at
the highest level all report student association more helpful.
Poll Time!
Diversity shows no significance at any level.
Ethics and Values and Communication Skills only significant from minimal/average to highest level of involvement.
Historical/Phil Foundation only significant from minimal to average/highly involved.
Poll Time!
What do you think is the optimal frequency for student organization meetings?
Major Findings Association meetings at least once a week
more helpful in the Development of Competencies
No significance on Diversity, Financial Management, Youth/Adult Development, Career Development, and Communication skills.
Employability skills significant at all levels.
So… For maximum development of competencies
students should be involved in their student association for at least 3 semesters, and be highly involved.
In addition for maximum development of their student’s competencies, faculty/staff should have student association meetings at least once a week.
Now what about what is happening within the student organization? How are students involved in community
engagement within student organizations?
How do community engagement activities impact students’ experience and development?
Poll Time!
What community engagement activities are your students involved in?
Community Engagement and the UNI Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
Annual Giving Campaign
Service Partnership
Cedar Valley Nonprofit Awards Luncheon
Advisory Board
Case Studies
Meet & Greet
Nonprofit Explore-A-Ganza
Conducted a Kruskal Wallis H test and reported significance at the .05 level.
How the Development of Competencies are influenced due to Activities in the Student Association are associated with:Number of Semesters InvolvedLevel of InvolvementHow Often Student Association Meets
Conducted a Mann-Whitney U Post-Hoc test and reported significance at the .0167 level.
Activities helpful to at least 3 semesters (no significance between 4 & 5 semesters).
Interaction with advisory board not significantly helpful.
Attending meetings only significant comparing 1-2 semesters and 5+ semesters.
Major Findings
Students involved on average level and at the highest level report student association activities more helpful
Letter-writing campaign significant from minimal to average/highly involved
Grantwriting and AMI only significant from minimal/average to highly involved
Major Findings
No real pattern between activities’ impact on development of activities and frequency of association meetings.
Major Findings
Pair and Share Why are we involved in community engagement
activities in higher eduation?
What objectives are important to define for community engagement activities?
What are the most effective community engagement activities in meeting those objectives?
How do you select the community engagement activities that will be impactful and enable us to achieve our objectives?
Future Research The primary purpose of the research is to
analyze the impact of student involvement in student organizations on students’ development in core competencies during their experience at the University of Northern Iowa.
Almost 400 responses