DEAL

D.E.A.L. (Developing Effective and Aware Leaders) Executive Summary: The purpose of the D.E.A.L. (Developing Effective and Aware Leaders) program is to provide student staff, volunteers, and executive board members with the professional development needed to help them excel as student leaders using National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Student Leader Competencies. D.E.A.L. sessions are held approximately once a month and provide an opportunity for students to relax and enjoy a meal while having meaningful conversations with each other. Through the knowledge obtained from these monthly seminars, the students of the Oglesby Union are able to better serve in their roles at Florida State University.

Description and Outline: According to NACA (2009), “Being a student leader on a college campus is a unique opportunity that provides a wide array of learning opportunities that not only enhance the collegiate experience but also will enhance life after college.” The mission of the Oglesby Union is to create a diverse and engaging community that fosters individual and collective learning by providing outstanding services and opportunities for involvement. Thus, the Oglesby Union strives to give student leaders learning opportunities inherent in its mission and values. The D.E.A.L. program is a revamped professional development initiative for student staff, volunteers, and executive board members in the Oglesby Union. Originally, student staff workshops focused on topics that did not use a common set of guiding outcomes.

Bliming, Whitt and Associates (1999) noted, “Student affairs educators can seize opportunities to generalize learning from a variety of out-of-class activities by thinking through what they want students to learn from the experiences they are structuring, stating these clearly, and by linking with academic programs to form partnerships” (as cited in NACA, 2009). The impetus for D.E.A.L. came from a NACA grant received in 2012 to measure growth in student leader competencies. The NACA grant provided the initial vital funding and the Oglesby Union supplemented the grant amount. With over 300 student employees ranging in role, skill set, and job duties, we found it challenging to provide professional development that met everyone’s needs. In addition, we realized that we needed an incentive. The grant funds allowed for us to offer a meal each month during the sessions. In order to continue the program, the Associate Director identified funds to continue the program in the upcoming years, showing the commitment of the Oglesby Union administration in the development of our students.

D.E.A.L. sessions highlight skills students can utilize in the university community to improve their student leader competencies while also giving students time to have meaningful discussions about their roles with their peers. The monthly program gives students the tools they need to better serve in their roles by educating them on resources available both on and off campus.

Beginning in 2011, the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Student Leader Competencies began to guide the selection of D.E.A.L. topics. These topics include the following: Leadership Development, Assessment and Evaluation, Event Management, Interpersonal Relationships, Collaboration, Social Responsibility, Effective Communication, Multicultural Competency, Intellectual Growth, Clarified Values, Enhanced Self-Esteem, Realistic Self-Appraisal, Healthy Behavior and Satisfying Lifestyles, Interdependence, Spiritual Awareness, Personal and Educational Goals, and Career Choices. The NACA Student Leader Competencies refer to a set of

composite skills, knowledge and behaviors that provides the basis and forms the foundation for successful student leader practices on a college or university campus.

In order to assess student leader competencies, a pilot project began with one group of student leaders, the SOAR Board. The Student Organization Advisory and Resource (SOAR) Board is a liaison to Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) and the Student Activities Center (SAC).

The purpose of SOAR is to represent the Student Activities Center to the university community through various programs and services for the RSOs. The following year, two more groups of student leaders were added into the project: the Homecoming Executive Council and Guest Services Building Managers. The Homecoming Executive Council is a group of students charged with organizing the Homecoming festivities each fall at Florida State University. The Guest Services building managers are in charge of overseeing the set-up, reservations, and lost and found within the Oglesby Union.

We began to collect data for D.E.A.L. in 2010. Below is a snapshot of the variety of D.E.A.L. topics presented: • Collaboration from a Student Perspective • Communication as a Two-Way Street • Community Service • Customer Satisfaction • Interviewing • Living the Seminole Tradition: Responsibility as a Student Leader • Resume Writing • Risk Management in a Nutshell • The Speed of Trust D.E.A.L. is a very special opportunity for students at any point in their undergraduate career and in any role ranging from a volunteer, student leader, to a student employee. Therefore, the topics must be applicable to a broad range of developmental and professional levels. Giving and receiving feedback, learning risk management strategies, and how to use trust as a basis of leadership are just a few examples of how we can teach valuable life skills to all of our students through the competencies.

Thankfully, D.E.A.L. sessions continue to be supported by the Oglesby Union leadership as a nascent program to start garnering more student participation. Traditionally, we have an average of 10 students participate in each session. The meal provided during each D.E.A.L. session costs on between $5.00 to $8.00 per person, depending on the catered food and drinks. The average cost of the program each year is $800.00, which is set aside in the Associate Director’s budget. We believe that this is “money well spent” on our students considering how the D.E.A.L. “free-lunch” incentive reinforces the administration’s ongoing support of professional support while providing students a nice meal.

Assessment Data: At the conclusion of each D.E.A.L. session, we distribute a short evaluation to those in attendance. Usually, we have had a response rate of over 95% of those in attendance completing the evaluation. The evaluation asks participants to rate the usefulness of the topic and what they learned from the session. Additionally, the evaluation asks participants to rate how they improved on the NACA Student Leader Competencies which served as the learning outcomes for each session.

The program has been overwhelmingly rated as useful. Students believe that they have been able to learn either a new skill or new information during the variety of presentations held during a session. Our presenters are always well prepared and knowledgeable of their respective areas. Our students are made aware of upcoming sessions through varying modes of communication. We use on-line invitation software, e-mails, make announcements to student supervisors/ advisors during our weekly full-staff meetings called “Huddle,� and distribute a flyer internally.

In summary, we have an average of 50 students attend the D.E.A.L. sessions each year. The students stated that the presentations have been useful in enhancing their knowledge of the specific areas presented. Our students are very engaged and like to have ample time to ask questions and participate in the presentations and with the speakers. The D.E.A.L. sessions are an enjoyable time for students to connect with each other in a relaxed yet informative setting.

References NACA (1999). Competency guide for college student leaders: Facilitator’s version.