The Freshman Leadership Institute (FLI) allows the freshman to engage in leadership development as they begin to navigate the university and become involved in their collegiate experience. The provision of establishing long term relationships with fellow students and the administration is also provided.
Claudia Mercado, the Assistant Director of the Students Activities Office, Explains that FLI provides students an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of leadership by developing their beliefs. She says, “Almost every leadership development model begins with students exploring their values before they begin leading others. Leaders are more effective when they act in congruence with their beliefs and often falter when they lack values.”
Mercado said, “The students are responsible for working closely with the groups that are formed, establish their personal values, and strive to be an integral part of the university. They will develop self- awareness of their individual values, how they chose to communicate their values, and how their values are put into action. They are to walk away with the importance of living a congruent life and will conclude with the development of their personal belief statement. Upon successful completion of the program there is a formal graduation to recognize the students accomplishments”.
FLI was created in the fall of 2007 as a part of the newly overhauled Leaders Emerging and Developing (LEAD) program throughout the Students Activities Office. They have seen an increase in interest and have received more than six times the applications since last year. The program is only offered in the fall for freshman. Programs familiar to FLI are being explored for the upper classmen. For more information on LEAD programs visit www.neiu.edu/~deptsao or visit the NEIU LEAD on www.facebook.com.