Center for Leadership and Engagement

The Center for Leadership and Engagement

As a part of the Division of Student Affairs, The Center for Leadership and Engagement serves as a centralized connector, convener, and collaborator to provide students with the resources needed to improve in the areas of leadership development and engagement on and off campus.

Mission & Vision Statement

The Center for Leadership & Engagement serves as the hub for Leadership Development at NJCU. We guide our students and other NJCU departments in their facilitation of programming and training that engage our students in developing their leadership capacity.

Our vision is to provide a dynamic, culturally responsive center for the pursuit and integration of leadership and engagement within the entire NJCU community and beyond.

Why Leadership

Leadership development is a prominent theme and objective in higher education (Smart, Ethington, Riggs, & Thompson, 2002) and we too recognize its importance in the development of our students. For the NJCU student to reach optimum levels of success requires a structured standard of leadership development. Culturally Responsive Teaching is a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning (Ladson-B illings,1994).Leadership development is an educational and developmental process that reaches across all co-curricular and institutional areas. It is essential that we are incorporating the student experience into our leadership processes as we prepare our students for excellence in this modern society.

Learning Outcomes

Sharpen leadership skills and apply them to strengthen the NJCU community and beyond
Articulate how their co-curricular experiences can integrate and elevate their goals as students, and professionals
Gain the necessary resources to enhance their career readiness skills
Cultivate a culturally responsive mindset to better prepare for a diverse ever changing society

The Center for Leadership & Engagement promotes student growth through the following areas within the university:

Armor Leadership Academy

Armor is a comprehensive program seeking to provide students with leadership development, training, education and community engagement. Armor works collaboratively with other NJCU partners to enhance skill development, facilitate co-curricular learning, and culturally responsive teaching. Through outreach we seek to develop visionary student leaders who will be prepared for a complex ever changing society.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association at New Jersey City University strives to implement a wide range of services to enhance the experience of all NJCU students. The Student Government Association oversees our multitude of student clubs and organizations while also providing professional development, leadership workshops and additional resources.

The Center for Community Engagement

The Center for Community Engagement creates and fosters a commitment to lifelong service within the NJCU community by encouraging students, faculty, and staff to engage in meaningful service projects that make a positive impact in communities of limited means in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, the United States, and the world. Through major initiatives, including our Gothic Knights Food Pantry, Community Center and The Center for Community Engagement demonstrates a commitment to serve.

Gilligan Student Union

The CLE oversees the events and logistics within Gilligan Student Union Building (GSUB). The Gilligan Student Union Advisory Board was formed to balance the overall needs for the Student Union keeping the betterment of the University and all stakeholders, most importantly students, in mind. The advisory board will review policies, services, facilities along with all concerns and make recommendations for improvement.

Campus Activities

Campus Activities coordinates multicultural, academic, and social events to help increase student engagement within the NJCU community. Some of the signature events, include Multicultural Month Celebrations, The Bob Marley Bash, Inside the Faculty Studio and Clash on the Canvas.

References
Ladson-Billings, G. (1994). The dreamkeepers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishing Co.
C. Smart, John & A. Ethington, Corinna & O. Riggs, Robert & D. Thompson, Michael. (2002). Influences of Institutional Expenditure Patterns on the Development of Students' Leadership Competencies. Research in Higher Education. 43. 115-132. 10.1023/A:1013074218134.

Transforming Lives Strategic Plan

UPCOMING EVENTS

NJCU FOOD PANTRY