The Center for Excellence in Student Leadership at Wiley College was spearheaded by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services and sanctioned by its Board of Trustees on November 2, 2007 to unify the myriad leadership programs developed and implemented as single initiatives designed to more fully engage students in college life and develop more well-rounded graduates.

Wiley College seeks to meet strategically the unique challenges and needs of diverse community through initiatives that promote student excellence and leadership.

• Signature Programs (5)
  
  
  • Ethical Student Leadership Conference
    The Ethical Student Leadership Conference is an intensive three-day event that endeavors to equip participants with an ethical framework for leadership by providing a venue to develop and enhance the quality of student leaders at institutions of higher education.

    The conference is the programmatic cornerstone of the Center. This annual conference has attracted more than 200 student leaders representing colleges and universities from around the country since 2006. The event offers a forum for interactive plenary sessions, panel discussions and activities that allow students to engage and reflect, in both formal and informal settings. The conference is held annually in the month of January.

  • Leadership Academy
    The Wiley College Leadership Academy (WCLA) exists to nurture the development of student leaders by empowering them with the knowledge and skill sets necessary to improve the quality of their lives. The purpose of the WCLA is to enhance the confidence and the skills of a targeted group of junior and senior high students and to present college as a viable option.

    The WCLA serves as the umbrella for six separate programmatic components which include two leadership academies as well as programs that relate to community service, spiritual development, mentorship and parental support.

  • Men of Strength
    The Center’s overarching purpose for the Men of Strength program is to increase retention, foster spiritual development, promote positive images, bolster self-esteem, nurture gender and student leadership development and stimulate academic achievement of male students at Wiley College. The Men of Strength program is an annual week-long event to enhance the spiritual awareness of male students, faculty and staff at Wiley College.

    Now in its ninth year, this signature program of the Center for Excellence in Student Leadership is a dynamic event that convenes students as well as ministerial, academic and community leaders for a week of special observance. The program also serves as an introduction to the rich history and tradition of Wiley College. The Men of Strength celebration is held annually during the spring semester.

    • Honorees have included:
      • 2010
        • Dr. James Batten – Wiley College Trustee and President of United Methodist Homes in New Jersey
        • Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe – Bishop of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
        • Attorney Craig Watkins – District Attorney in Dallas County, Texas
      • 2009
        • Ken Franklin – Superintendent for the Marshall Independent School District
        • Bishop Larry B. Kiel – Senior Bishop of the Full Gospel Holy Temple Church
        • Warren S. Scott – Wiley College Trustee
        • Dr. Joseph L. Morale – Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
    • Schedule of Events: (insert 2010 program booklet)
    • Photo Gallery: (hyperlink to phanfare)
  • Women of Excellence
    The Women of Excellence is a key program of the Center for Excellence in Student Leadership designed to celebrate and empower female students, faculty and staff at Wiley College. Since 2002, the Center has hosted the annual week-long event to focus on excellence, promote academic achievement and portray positive images. The Women of Excellence schedule includes convocation, an honoree luncheon, vesper service and a series of forums to discuss issues of importance to women in college and throughout the world.

    The week of celebration provides a supportive platform to feature state-wide and nationally known women of accomplishment such as authors, media personalities, business, government professionals and other invited speakers that will foster confidence and inspire students to set high standards of excellence.

    The Women of Excellence celebration is held annually during the spring semester.

    • Honorees have included:
      • 2010
        • Dr. Carol McDonald – President of Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas
        • Bettye Marshall – Regional General Manager/Vice President of Sam’s Club
        • Liz McCartney – Co-Founder of the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans and 2008 CNN Hero of the Year
        • Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson – Assistant General Secretary, Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns General Board of Higher Education Ministry (United Methodist Church)
      • 2009
        • Dr. Gloria Dean Scott – Former President of Bennett College. Visiting Research Professor at Wiley and recipient of six honorary doctorates.
        • Monica Carter Tagore – Author and Entrepreneur.
        • Dr. Wanda D. Bigham – Assistant General Secretary of the National Association of Colleges and Schools of the United Methodist Church. Former President of Huntington College and Marycrest College.
        • W. Chris Hinton-Lee – Chief Architect of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Director of Regional Business for the South Atlantic Division.
      • 2008
        • Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
        • Gwendolyn Skillern
      • 2007
        • RaShonda Tate Billingsley
        • Charlotte Newton
        • Markey W. Pierre’
      • 2006
        • Phyllis J. Bedford
        • Michelle Hall
        • Elder Debra B. Morton
        • Janet Cook
        • Bettie Maulsby
    • Schedule of Events: (Coming soon: 2010 program booklet)
    • Photo Gallery
  • Debate Program
    An integral and exciting part of the overall plan for the Center for Excellence in Student Leadership is to provide direction for the debate program at Wiley College. The Center seeks to offer a forum for preparation, competition and opportunities to showcase the debate team which was re-established in 2007. As the home of the inspiring story of Dr. Melvin Tolson and the championship debate team featured in the 2007 movie, “The Great Debaters”, Wiley College hopes to leverage this unique opportunity to build lasting partnerships with debate programs at colleges and universities throughout the country.
  • Debate schedule: http://www.wileyc.edu/wileydebaters
    
    
• Leadership Development Initiatives (6)
  
  
  • Student Leadership Retreat
    The Student Leadership Retreat promotes personal growth and intellectual development of students at the College. The annual event targets class officers, resident assistants and campus organizational leaders. The plenary sessions of the Student Leadership Retreat include topics such as parliamentary procedure, professional etiquette, stress management, dressing for success and other information intended to provide campus leaders with an overview of responsibilities and duties for the upcoming academic year.
    • Schedule of Events: (insert SLI program booklet)
  • Freshman Leadership Camp
    This three-day annual program provides an opportunity for incoming freshmen to explore and develop leadership potential. This program was initiated in August of 2007.
    • Schedule of Events: (insert SLI program booklet)
  • Emerging Leaders
    The Emerging Leaders Program focuses on freshman and sophomore students who have demonstrated leadership potential. This leadership development program meets monthly during the academic year.
    • Schedule of Events: (insert 2010 program schedule)
  • Executive Intern Program
    The purpose of the Executive Intern Program is to acquaint student interns with the operations and responsibilities of Wiley College’s chief executives. The paid internship (an in-kind scholarship) is a program in which students earn academic credit for working in one of the five executive offices. Interns participate in executive level meetings such as the President’s Administrative Council and Cabinet. The program offers exposure to higher education and public policy-related issues as well as institutional strategic planning, budgeting, financial management and leadership.
  • Student International Exchange Program
    The purpose of the Student International Exchange Program is to provide students with a global perspective and exposure to diverse cultures. The ultimate aim of the exchange program is to broaden student experiences and foster better relationships with people of different nationalities. This program is open to the student body and is available during the academic year.
  • Student Leadership Course
    This course is designed to focus on various philosophies (strategies) of leadership including content, processes, procedures, techniques, and resources. Implications of principles leadership that will be applied to professional group and individual work in the business, government and educational institutions.

    Various approaches to leadership development will be evaluated within the context of research and popular literature.
    
    

• Communication Enhancement Initiatives (3)
  
  
  • Wiley Online Writing
    The Wiley Online Writing Program is designed to improve student writing skills. The program is offered throughout the academic year.
  • Toastmasters
    The Wiley College Toastmasters’ chapter provides training and opportunities for extemporaneous and planned speaking before audiences. This program is based upon the notion that effective communicators become effective leaders.
  • Wiley Book Bag
    The Wiley Book Bag endeavors to improve the reading skills of Wiley College students. This program is offered throughout the academic year.
    
    
• Spiritual Uplift Initiatives (5)
  
  
  • The Prayer Hour
    The Prayer Hour provides students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to engage in an hour of prayer in the Wiley College Chapel on designated days of the week. This spiritual uplift initiative allows students, through vespers, prayer and meditation, a dedicated time to refocus the heart and mind. During the 2007-2008 academic year, more than 32 volunteers, known as Prayer Warriors were available to offer intercessory prayers.
  • Gathering of Men
    The Gathering of Men is an on-campus program that provides an opportunity to begin each week in a spiritually focused way and to discuss issues of importance. Initiated in 2007, the Gathering of Men targets male students, faculty and staff at Wiley College. Program participants meet weekly for thirty minutes throughout the academic year.
  • Tuesday Chapel Service
    The Tuesday Chapel Service is a weekly worship service for the spiritual uplift of students and the campus community. The service is open to the student body, faculty and staff. Through this program, students are exposed to a diverse group of ministers who have gained a following because of the power of their scripture-based messages.
  • Mid-Week Bible Study
    The purpose of the Mid-Week Bible Study program is to assist residential students in becoming more familiar with the word of God through weekly study sessions. The bible study sessions are conducted by faculty. This program was initiated in 2007.
  • Sunday Morning Worship Service
    The Sunday Morning Worship Service was reinstated in September 2007. This gathering in worship is open to residential students to promote spiritual growth and provide regular opportunities for fellowship among residential students, faculty and staff.
    
    
• Student Life and Residence Initiatives (5)
  
  
  • Mini College
    This Mini-College Residence Life Program is intended to add value to classroom learning by providing one-hour informational sessions that are facilitated by experts in specific subject areas. The sessions are held monthly during the academic year and are open to the entire student body.
  • Residence Council and Executive Residence Council
    The Residence Council was formed to provide students in each residence center with opportunities to serve in elected leadership roles. In addition, the Executive Residence Council is a related organization comprised of the elected presidents of each Residence Council. The Residence Council holds monthly meetings during the academic year. The Executive Residence Council holds its meetings once per semester.
  • Resident Assistants Development
    The Residence Assistance Development (RAD) is a three-day workshop that provides orientation and a refresher course in basic job training skills and outlines specific duties for current and newly appointed resident assistants. The RAD workshops are held annually.
  • New Student Orientation
    The New Student Orientation is intended to assist first-year students in the transition from high school to college and in the navigation of the Wiley College administrative services system. This program is held bi-annually in the fall and spring semesters.