Student Affairs - Student Employment Leadership Program

The A-Team Student Employment Leadership Program was created in 2013 to support Student Auxiliary Services student employees working in leadership positions. The program expanded in 2018 to support the entire Student Affairs Division. Designed to provide student staff with an opportunity to enhance their skill sets, knowledge base, and leadership potential so they can excel in the workforce and their future career endeavors. Specific learning outcomes for the program include:

• Participants will learn skills to be more effective student peer leaders (team dynamics, conflict resolution, decision-making, crisis response, customer service, etc.).
• Participants will learn more about other departments in the Division of Student Affairs.
• Participants will make connections with students and staff from other Student Affairs units.
• Participants will be able to share their experiences/feedback as student leaders on campus.
• Participants will participate in service to their community.

Benefits of Participating

The A-Team program provides student leaders the opportunity to attend regular workshops on a variety of topics related to employment. As a part of completing this program, students participate in service-learning projects and meet with a staff mentor. In addition, these students are afforded training in the following competencies, as they relate to leadership:

• Conflict Resolution
• Positive Workplace Communication
• Team Development and Mentoring
• Professionalism and Networking
• Sustainable Practices
• Balance and Wellness

Upon completion of the program, participates will receive:

• A-Team Student Employment Leadership Program certificate
• A-Team chord for graduation
• Be able to list “A-Team: Student Employment Leadership Program” on their resume
• Be recognized during an end of the year banquet
• Receive a letter acknowledging their achievement from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Auxiliaries

Program Completion Requirements:

1. Attend at least five A-team workshops/events within the Fall and Spring semesters.
2. Provide one development training with your department team members (student and/or professional staff) based on an A-Team workshop that you attended.  You will be provided with supporting training materials.
3. Attend at least three mentor meetings.
4. Participate in at least two pre-approved service projects with the A-team, or one service project and serve on a department advisory board as a student representative.
5. Submit a 2-3-page written reflection on what you learned in the workshops, projects, events, and from your employment with the university (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman Font).
6. Complete one of the following Skillsoft courses OR LinkedIn Learning trainings by May 1^st of the current academic year (accessed through your UCCS portal and please post your completion certificate within the A-Team Teams platform):

• Skillsoft Courses:
  • Overcoming Unconscious Bias in the Workplace (25-minute course)
  • Being a Fair and Caring Manager (29-minute course)
  • The Many Approaches to Facing Workplace Conflict (30-minute course)
  • Developing an Effective Business Case (30-minute course)
  • Taking Stock of Your Work/Life Balance (22-minutes)
  • Polishing Your Skills for Excellent Customer Service (24-minutes)
• LinkedIn Learning Trainings:
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Decision Making
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Time Management
  • Customer Service
  • Training and Development
  • Career Development

7. Complete both A-Team pre and post learning outcomes assessment surveys. 

“It takes a village to run an organization and that it's okay to ask for help. I also learned how to handle stress and to relax.”

“I learned about how to interact with other departments better within the same organization. I also learned more about professionalism.”

“What I do at my job does make a positive impact on campus and everyone on campus works in conjunction somehow.”

“I am better able to be self-aware and look forward to applying these skills.”

“I learned to take advantage of the relationships and connections available to me. I learned to say yes to every leadership opportunity.”

“I have loved getting to learn more about the buildings and programs within the school, as well as working on community service projects that had a positive impact on that community. One of the greatest benefits of this program was simply being exposed to great leaders and having the opportunity to learn from them.”

“The biggest takeaway from the experience would be knowing that diversity can be found in not just international education but everywhere else on campus. Everyone in different departments has their responsibility to keep the campus diverse and inclusive. It really opened my mind through the conversations I had with other student participants and mentors. Before that I limited myself just to focus on international education. But now I know there are a lot more opportunities for me.”