Although we have close to 300 recognized student organizations at SIUE (and many more that are run out of departments rather than in an organization), the leaders of SIUE are of the highest quality no matter the role they play. SIUE does a great job of providing certain trainings/trends that most leaders recognize and I'm going to be recounting the 7 that any student leader will most definitely know.
1. Potosi, Missouri
Potosi has been the retreat spot of choice at SIUE for many years now. Many organizations from Student Government to the Resident Assistants attend a short retreat here and are able to have trainings away from Edwardsville in order to eliminate all distractions. Potosi is home to many different side activities from swimming to the alpine tower to exploring the forest (and getting lost in the forest if you're me). We all have memories of Trout Lodge, even if they are nightmares about the food they serve there.
2. SOLO
The Student Organization Leadership Orientation (also known as SOLO) is an event put on by the Kimmel Student Involvement Center at the start of the fall semester in order to demonstrate important information and best practices for organizations. Two representatives are required from each organization to attend, so it's likely you've been once (or maybe multiple times). It's very cool to see a large gathering of different leaders from all around SIUE, and it is a great start off to the year for organizations (even if it is at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday!) If you've not registered yet for Fall 2016, here's your link: http://www.siue.edu/kimmel/solo.shtml
3. SLDP
The Student Leadership Development Program (also known as SLDP) is a number of small leadership-building seminars that are held throughout the year. These might be more well known due to the free lunch associated with many of them or the fact that your organization is entered to win money if you go, but all of the sessions are extremely educational and can provide new information to anyone, no matter their level of leadership education (i'm not just saying this because I'm a presenter either!) Schedule for 2016-17 found here: http://www.siue.edu/kimmel/leadership/
4. Kimmel Student Involvement Center
Not only is the Kimmel Student Involvement Center the home of leadership and organization based activities at SIUE, but it's more than likely a place where you spend a majority of your time. From filling out forms to clocking in ours at your organization's table, this is the main hub of all leadership on campus. The wonderful staff here are the very same that bring you SLDP and SOLO (amongst MANY MANY other things). If you're a leader on campus and you don't spend at least 10 hours in here a week, I'd be impressed. Come for the organizational forms, stay for the best staff on campus.
5. Volunteer Programs/Philanthropies
Whether you're a member of a philanthropic organization, a volunteer within our volunteer programs, or just attending a volunteer experience/philanthropy on behalf of your organization, you will find yourself helping the Edwardsville/STL community throughout your time at SIUE. When events like Up Till Dawn, Angel Tree, Dance Marathon, Volunteer Saturdays, or Alternative Spring Break roll up, you're the first person volunteering to represent your organization (or maybe even lead the event itself!).
6. Student Government
Whether you're a part of SG through being in an elected/appointed position or you do business with SG as a part of your organization, you tend to see their smiling faces a lot. Many of the processes for organizations from founding an organization to requesting funding requires a visit to SG for approval. Most student leaders form a part of SG as well (and if you're not a part of SG, what are you even doing with your time at SIUE?!?!?!)
7. Awards Ceremonies
Being a leader usually comes with an unspoken thanks, but at SIUE, we have a large number of awards ceremonies/honors societies to recognize all your hard work. Typically you'll find that you might have one of the last weeks of the Spring semester absolutely full of one ceremony or another, and even though these ceremonies are to honor you, you'll be very modest and continue working hard in your leadership role, cause that's what SIUE leaders do.
