Leadership Series #4: Lifting communities through leadership education

Public universities share a common goal of equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to secure jobs after graduation. But several forces today require institutions to do even more. 

To help large cities effectively address problems such as increasing income inequality and economic segregation, public universities must produce college graduates who are innovative problem solvers that can spark the imaginations and inspire hard work. Employers today expect employees to be “ready from day one.” Graduates must be articulate, write well, communicate, use technology and be capable of working within teams.  Texas A&M University-San Antonio(A&M-SA) students gain real-world experience through high-impact learning activities such as internships, capstone projects and community service that hones their readiness.

Leadership skillsare a common ingredient for success, and increasingly what differentiates one college graduate from other candidates in a job search. A&M-SA delivers a variety of leadership education programs to prepare students to make a positive impact on the communities where they live and work.

A&M-SA’s President’s Leadership Class(PLC) is a comprehensive four-year program designed to help students develop essential leadership skills. Each year, freshmen compete for selection as one of 25 PLC Scholars who receive four-year scholarships worth $8,000. Each cohort of PLC Scholars participates in a rigorous curriculum that combines leadership instruction taught by faculty and outside experts with community-impact projects and structured interactions with local community and business leaders. 

At the graduate level, A&M-SA offers the Master of Arts in Educational Administrationto prepare administrators to meet the leadership needs of school districts. The program’s flexible curriculum delivers content to students in the classroom and online to accommodate their busy schedules. The aspiring educational leaders also have the opportunity to teach side-by-side with experienced A&M-SA faculty. The University is currently collaborating with Judson ISD and Northeast ISD to equip several cohorts of teachers with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to move into the ranks of vice principals and principals in the years ahead.  

This spring semester, A&M-SA launched a one-of-a-kind academic program at Univision studios in San Antonio that is designed to prepare students for media careers of the future. Through the “Univision Media Lab – Capstone Experience,” fourth-year communications students were mentored by leaders at Univision and learned from seasoned bilingual journalists in broadcast and digital media as well advertising and marketing.

Students entering the job market today should differentiate themselves with leadership skills.  A&M-SA provides leadership development throughout the academic experience to prepare students to meet the evolving workforce needs of local employers and, ultimately, boost the prosperity and social mobility of our community. 

Re-published with the permission of the Southside Reporter.