Mistletoe Residential College Events
Leadership Through Service is the theme for Mistletoe Residential College. Each month focuses on a different leadership skill to develop while serving the greater community. Programs and events are presented in collaboration with other campus offices, including the Office of Student Activities & Leadership, the Office of Civic Engagement & Learning, The Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, the Career Center, the Department of Bioethics, Habitat for Humanity, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Mistletoe Residential College 2008-2009 Leadership Curriculum
The Mistletoe Leadership Curriculum seeks to carry out the mission of Mistletoe Residential College:
Provide students in the college the opportunity to learn about themselves through service and leadership through challenging new students to make meaningful connections with each other, with other entities within the university, and the broader Cleveland community.
Through the following sessions students will:
*Develop their own definitions and opinions of leadership
*Recognize the value of a team as well as one’s role on the team and each individual team member’s role.
*Recognize the importance of trust within a team and how to foster it.
*Understand the importance and effects of diversity.
*Develop awareness of one’s self and environment and how awareness affects leadership
August—What is Leadership?
This session will bring in faculty from different departments of the University to facilitate discussions about leadership within their respective fields. The importance of setting goals and identifying objectives to reach those goals will also be discussed. Discussion will center around topics discussed in John C. Maxwell’s book, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow.
September—Developing Communication Skills
This session will present a variety of activities which will help first year students improve their skills in multiple areas of communication. There will also be a discussion on the importance of effective communication When in a leadership position.. This session centers around topics discussed in the article, An Approach to the Study of Communicative Acts, by Newcomb.
October—The Egg Drop at the Spot
This session will require residents to work in a team of their choice to build a contraption that will hold an egg while being dropped from the top of The Spot. There will also be a discussion on teams and how they relate to leadership. This discussion will be based on Glenn Parker’s book, Team Players and Teamwork: New Strategies for Developing Collaboration.
November—Building a Team
This session will have various activities that will require the students to work in teams. Many of the activities will focus on the importance of trust. There will also be discussion on the dynamics of teams and their effects on leadership based on Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable.
December—Making a Decision Within a Group
The movie, 12 Angry Men will be shown during this session and there will be discussions about group decision making, group think, and one’s role on a team. Discussions will be based on Herb Cohen’s book, Negotiate This!: By Caring, But Not T-H-A-T Much as well as the movie.
January—The How To’s of Public Speaking
Each student will pick a random topic and have 1 minute to develop a 2 minute speech about this topic. They will then receive feedback on their public speaking. Discussion topics will center around Stephen Denning’s book, The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling: Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative.
February—Cultural Learning
This session will consist of a cultural simulation and discussion of diversity as well as social justice. It is based on Chris Crutcher’s book, Athletic Shorts.
March—Developing Self Awareness
During this session students will take the Myers-Briggs Inventory to increase self awareness. There will also be discussion and reflection about the importance of self awareness for effective leadership and how the Myers-Briggs Inventory improves our self-awareness. This session is based on research from the Myers-Briggs Institute.
April—Congratulations!
This session will recognize and celebrate student leaders within the Mistletoe Community who have been nominated by their peers or by Mistletoe Staff. The winner of the Danny Pho Servant Leadership award will also be announced at this event. This session is based on Donald Clifton’s book, How Full is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life.