CLS Annual Report

Virginia Tech Center for Leadership Studies
Annual Report
2008-2009

I.        Mission of Center

The Virginia Tech Center for Leadership Studies (CLS) was established in December 1998 in order to expand leadership development opportunities for students at Virginia Tech by sharing resources between programs and coordinating student leadership development activities. The center provides a supportive environment for leadership development activities across the entire university community.

II.       Classification of Center and Organizational Structure

• This is a university center.
• There are no students affiliated with the center.

• The CLS receives no university funding beside what is received by its component units. These units are all part of academic units of the university. In many cases these units have expanded their traditional activities to take on student leadership development activities without additional university resources. The growing popularity of these activities has created a dilemma of the need for increased funding to support these activities with little likelihood of additional university funding support.

III.      Amendments to the Center Charter

There were no amendments to the center charter.

IV.      Stakeholders Committee

The Center's Advisory Board (Board) has been helpful in sharing information, coordinating activities and assuring that leadership development opportunities are available to an increasing number of Virginia Tech students. The Center's Advisory Board consists of representatives from a number of university programs including: Jerrold P. Allen, Commandant of Military Affairs; Candice E. Clemenz, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Pamplin College of Business; Loke T. Kok, Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; W. Dave Miller, Director of the Major General W. Thomas Rice Corps of Cadets Center for Leader Development; Rick D. Rudd, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Extension; Anju Seth, Head of the Department of Management, Ed Spencer, Vice President for Student Affairs; Richard E. Sorensen, Dean of the Pamplin College of Business, who serves as Chair of the Advisory Board and Director of the CLS; and Denise Trudeau, Director of the Residential Leadership Community (RLC).

The Board last met on April 1, 2009.

V.       Major Contracts Received in 2008-09

No major contracts were received in 2008-2009.

VI.      Major Proposals Submitted or Pending

No major proposals were submitted or pending in 2008-2009.

VII.     Significant accomplishments in 2008-2009

There continues to be a high level of student participation in leadership development activities with numerous programs available throughout the university. Arrangements were made to facilitate student participation across programs. The meetings of the Advisory Board have been helpful in keeping those involved up to date with all of the related efforts and in developing opportunities to collaborate, share speakers, and maximize student opportunities to participate.

Leadership Programs

The following briefly summarizes some of the accomplishments of the component leadership programs.

Pamplin College of Business

Brian C. Slingerland, ‘00, Founding Partner with Qatalyst Group, and Richard R. Whitt, III, ’87 Senior Vice President and CFO, Markel Corporation, were speakers in the Wachovia Distinguished Speakers Series in Fall 2008. Teresa Fass Blevins, Executive Vice President and CFO, Landmark Media Enterprises, LLC, participated in this series in Spring 2009. Vahan Janjigian, an author and Chief Investment Strategist at Forbes, was the speaker for the BB&T Distinguished Lecture Series on Capitalism in Fall 2009. Nobel Laureate James M. Buchanan participated in this program in Spring 2009.

Award winning author, Michael Beschloss, participated in the Clifford Cutchins Distinguished Lecture Series in Spring 2009. The recently implemented Department of Finance Speakers Series was found particularly effective in attracting prominent alumni back to campus. The Department of Management hosts a similar program. The Department of Marketing is developing such a program. Mike Peters, President, Newport News Sector, Northrop Grumman, addressed the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, Spring 2009.

Business Leadership Center (BLC)

The Business Leadership Center has continued past commitments to promote the undergraduate Business Leadership Minor, to advise and sponsor the annual Pamplin Student Leadership Conference, to sponsor and promote the annual Caught in the Act of Leadership Award, to provide support and coordination for the Department of Management’s annual ethics conference, to co-sponsor the annual spring Form and Function Leadership conference, and to provide support, upon request, for leadership-related Management & Professional Development (MDPD) programs and clients.

Business Leadership Minor

The Business Leadership Minor continues to operate in cooperation with other leadership programs on campus, including the Residential Leadership Program, Leadership Tech, and the VTCC. 

The leadership minor program has been particularly attractive for business students, with approximately two-thirds of the students from the Pamplin College of Business.  However, the program continues to gain visibility across campus, with a wide variety of majors represented.  As of May 1, 2009, there were 245 students enrolled in the minor.

Pamplin Student Leadership Conference

Under the advisement of Mr. Ross Mecham the Pamplin Leadership development team sponsored the 2008 Tenth Annual Pamplin Student Leadership Conference at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Approximately 150 students attended the workshops. The conference is advertised and available to students in all majors, but the primary emphasis is on business students.

Pamplin Student Leadership Awards

Pamplin College leadership based student awards included:

Outstanding Graduating Senior Award - Stuart Vyule
H. H. Mitchell Outstanding Leadership Award - Adeel Khan
Outstanding College Service Award - Jennifer Vaziralli
Wall St. Journal Award - Adnan Barqawi

Residential Leadership Community

The Business Leadership Center works closely with the Residential Leadership Community Advisory Board and provided liaison for the Business Leadership Minor.  BLC and RLC jointly sponsored a new event was the Leadership Form and Function conference that was presented on February 16&17, 2007. This training event provided leadership training to rising student leaders. The event was taught by faculty members and a graduate student, pro bono, from the Management Department, IDST, Communications and others. The program was funded by the BLC, RLC, and Student Activities and was attended by approximately 55 students.

Caught in the Act of Award Leadership

The Caught in the Act of Leadership Award was presented again this year.

Ethics Conference

The Department of Management’s 18th Annual Business Ethics Conference, which was held Spring 2009, included a presentation by convicted felon and noted speaker Patrick Kuhse.

University Student Leadership Awards

The University Student Leadership Awards program include the Delta Sigma Phi student leadership awards program, National Science Foundation funding for ethics education for engineering students, the very successful Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Student Leadership Conference that had been held at Virginia Tech. Applications for Summer Orientation Leaders are up sharply.

Major General W. Thomas Rice Center for Leader Development

The Rice Center for Leader Development supports a number of leader development activities for students who are members of the Corps of Cadets and works closely with the Commandant of Military Affairs and his staff.  The Center is housed in the Pamplin College of Business.

The Rice Center sponsored a number of leadership initiatives.  The highlights of these are listed below.

Leaders in Action Series

This program brings a variety of guest speakers before the assembled regiment, from highly successful military and civilian executives to former regimental commanders with at least 10 years of experience in their careers.

Fall Semester guests were:

Spring guests included:

Annual VTCC Leadership Conference

Each year the Corps invites cadets and midshipmen from approximately 18 institutions, including the federal service academies, Senior Military Colleges, Junior Military Colleges and students from the Pamplin College, to participate in a conference on leadership and ethics.

This year 11 institutions sent cadets and midshipmen to VT for a three day conference held from 12-14 February 2009.  They heard from leaders in a keynote address, plenary sessions on professional competence and ethics, and have in-depth discussions in mixed small groups. The conference culminates with a formal senior banquet including a guest speaker, and is followed by the Military Ball in the Commonwealth Ballroom.  This year’s guest speaker for the banquet was Coach Bobby Ross.

Cutchins Distinguished Lecture Series

This year’s lecturer was Michael Beschloss, noted historian and TV commentator.  Judged by all who attended as a success, the event was held on 26 March 2009 in Burruss Hall.  Invited guests enjoyed a reception and dinner in Mr. Beschloss’ honor prior to the event.  Plans are underway for next year’s program.

Gunfighter’s Panel

This initiative returns to the Corps recent graduates who are now serving their country, and who in some cases are on a second or third combat deployment.  This series is coordinated by Colonel Roszak and is very well received by the cadets.  It gives them a chance to hear how the lessons and values taught in the Corps are important to life after graduation.  This academic year we had/have two panels on 11 September 2008, and 2 April 2009. Both events are followed by a reception and dinner in honor of the guests.

Corps of Cadets Leadership Minor

The Minor in Leadership Studies underwent a review that culminated in updates approved by the university governance.  These updates: removed courses no longer taught; added new courses; refined the focus of the minor on leadership and ethics; and streamlined the administrative burden.  These improvements strengthened the minor and ensured graduates are well prepared for roles of leadership in their chosen career.  There are 657 cadets enrolled and pursuing the Leadership Minor and 124 Cadets graduating with the Leadership Minor.

Management 2944

The Rice Center is responsible for this course, which is one of the requirements for the leadership minor.  The fall semester saw additions to the coursework in the form of optional readings and written requirements that helped improve the leadership efforts of the Corps. During the spring course, a 5-lesson block called The Cadet Leader School prepared cadets for their increased responsibilities for the next academic year.  This course was team taught by the commandant of cadets’ staff in large venues, one for each year group. The Capstone Course for seniors was refined and targeted toward helping seniors make the transition from college students to professionals. A significant issue that hampered teaching the Cadet Leader School was classroom availability.  An adequate number of small classrooms were not available which prevented the classes from small group instruction.  The Capstone Course had to be time shifted to 5PM which caused several cadets to miss due to other class conflicts.  Cadets are being surveyed to determine if this method of instruction was effective. 

Management 2984/4984 Topics in Special Studies

Spring semester saw two new classes incorporated into cadet training.  The purpose of these courses is to serve as developmental prototypes for future permanent classes for the civilian track cadets.  These classes will prepare the civilian track cadets for roles of leadership in business, industry and government.  Much was learned during the conduct of this semester that will be used for refinement in Fall 2009.  The courses are intended to become permanent for spring 2010.

Freshman Leadership Conference

On March 21st, the Pamplin College of Business, the Residential Leadership Community, Student Services and the Corps of Cadets jointly sponsored a leadership conference held at the Blacksburg Holiday Inn that was restricted to freshmen students.  The conference was organized into three sessions, with nine guest speakers and attended by over 90 VT students.  Feedback from the students attending this event was very positive.

Residential Leadership Community

The Residential Leadership Community (RLC), Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, is a collaborative activity between the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education (AEE) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The RLC curriculum promotes leadership knowledge, theory, and skills, while the residential environment promotes experiences and offers support that will assist students in their careers and personal lives.  With this first year leadership foundation, students are encouraged to complete a Leadership and Social Change Minor or pursue the Business Leadership Minor.

There are approximately 200 student participants in the first year leadership program. Requirements for the first year consist of two three-credit courses, a service learning component, and attendance at three university events. The curriculum of the Leadership 1015 course focuses on instruction of leadership theory, while the Leadership 1016 course is a special leadership praxis course covering team dynamics, diversity, and interpersonal leadership skills. There are approximately 70 second year students. The students either enroll in a teacher assistance course or a sophomore seminar course. The curriculum builds on the first year courses, developing an in-depth approach to leadership theory and application.

RLC Events

The RLC Fall Retreat was held August 22, 2008 and had attendance of over 200 RLC students.  Students participated in the RLC program orientation and team ropes course events.  At the Orientation session, they were introduced to the expectations and responsibilities of being an RLC member.  They were also introduced to the university Code of Conduct and the RLC Peers Standards Committee.

All first-year RLC students participated in Community Service projects in October 2008, including volunteering for the YMCA Project Home Repair, YMCA book fair, Blacksburg Bike Rodeo, and at Warm Hearth.

The Stepping Into Leadership Conference, March 21, provided seminar sessions covering topics of team dynamics, followership, coaching, and communication. This event was sponsored by the Business Leadership Center, Residential Leadership Community, Corps of Cadets, and Student Activities.  88 students participated with the following breakdown:  29 from the RLC, 9 from Pamplin, 28 from the Corps of Cadets, 2 from Student Activities, and 22 from other theme housing programs. 

Non-Credit Leadership Programs

A number of non-credit leadership programs were sponsored through the Management and Professional Development programs of the Pamplin College of Business. The Institute for Leadership in Changing Times (ILCT), which is sponsored by the Virginia Police Chief’s Association, has been successful. Last year the Certificate Program in Veterinary Business Management (CPVBM) was developed in conjunction with the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM). The implementation of this program has been delayed because of the economy.  The Business Applications Summer Experience (BASE) program, a non credit business familiarization program for non business undergraduate students, was developed and successfully piloted. Additional special institutes are in the process of being developed. Wolseley North America (Ferguson Enterprises) has become a major MPD client with 27 programs offered last year. Unfortunately, the Wolseley program was curtailed due to unfavorable conditions in the housing market. The 38th Annual Accounting and Auditing Conference was held in Roanoke and Virginia Beach, Virginia. There were 875 participants in total.

Bringing Visibility to Virginia Tech’s Leadership Development Activities

A comprehensive home page for the Center for Leadership Studies contains linkages to most of the component leadership programs and is accessible from their home pages. The CLC home page is prominently linked to the Virginia Tech home page as well as the Pamplin College of Business home page.

Several presentations have been made at national professional and association meetings concerning Virginia Tech’s leadership programs. A number of articles have been published featuring these leadership development activities. Those learning of these activities have been quite impressed by the comprehensive nature of these programs and the close cooperation that has occurred among such diverse groups.

VIII.    Industrial Affiliates Program

There are no industrial affiliates for this program.

IX.      Report of Financial Condition

Funds that are used to support this center are part of the budgets of affiliate organizations such as the Pamplin College of Business. There is no separate budget for this center.

X.       Major Issues of the Center

The major issue of the center is the need to generate university based or outside sources of funds to support the activities of the component organizations affiliated with this center.