Leadership is a rewarding challenge that can greatly enhance your life at the College of Southern Maryland and help you be prepared when great needs or opportunities arise. The Student Life Department urges students to be active on campus and to avidly pursue their leadership development. Students who participate in leadership development opportunities at the College of Southern Maryland are able to notate their experiences on a co-curricular transcript.

Check out our Top 10 List, and see what CSM has to offer our students who wish to gain valuable leadership experience!

1.  Join a student organization

Getting involved in student organizations can be one of the greatest, most rewarding experiences you will have while you are in college. CSM has a variety of student organizations that reflect the diversity of student life on campus. By joining an organization you will have the opportunity to network and socialize with students who have similar interests. Additionally, you will interact with a wide variety of faculty, staff, and even community members depending on what you get involved in.  Check out our registered student organizations today!

2.  Start a new student organization

If any of the current student organizations do not meet your interests and needs, we encourage you to start you own organization!  Find out how you can start a new student organization.

3.  Join your peers from around the state for Advocacy Day

Students are invited to participate in the annual community college Student Advocacy Day. This annual event will be held on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 in Annapolis, Maryland.

Students from all 16 Maryland community colleges join together for Maryland Community College Student Advocacy Day. Held during national community college week, students will have appointments with their Delegates and Senators in order to voice their views about higher education and the state budget cuts now facing all Maryland community colleges. Last year, over 250 students from the 16 community colleges, participated in Student Advocacy Day.  CSM sent a delegation of 12 students.

Round trip transportation will be provided from the La Plata campus. Transportation will depart at 7:30 a.m. and return at approximately 3:30 p.m., lunch will also be provided.  For more information, or to register, please contact the Student Life Department at (301) 934-7508 or stop by CC 110.

4.  Attend a statewide leadership conference

The College of Southern Maryland is a member of the Maryland Community College Activities Directors Association (MCCADA), a group of student activities and leadership development professionals from community colleges in Maryland.  Each year, MCCADA sponsors a statewide fall conference open to all students who either hold leadership positions or who are seeking to become involved on their campus.  Past conferences have addressed creativity, community service, and diversity.  This year’s Fall Leadership Conference will take place on Friday, October 1, 2004 at Carroll Community College. 

The MCCADA conference is open to students at CSM.  Registration fees are paid for by the campus Student Associations, but all students must fill out a registration form to attend.  Registration forms are due to the Student Life Department by 5:00 pm on Thursday, September 23, 2004. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact the Student Life Department at (301) 934-7508 or stop by CC 110.

5.  Play a sport at CSM

Interested in participating in intercollegiate athletics at College of Southern Maryland?  Just fill out an Intercollegiate Athletics Questionnaire and submit it to us.

Students interested in participating in intramural athletics should contact the Athletics office on the La Plata Campus, 301-934-2251, ext. 7224, or the Student Life Department at both the Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses.  The college has offered intramural basketball, volleyball and flag football in the past.

6.  Participate in an ongoing leadership development

The College of Southern Maryland Service-Leadership Institute provides an opportunity to explore and enhance your leadership abilities through working with other students, staff members, and a local community agency.

Students participating in the Service-Leadership Institute, will spend 6-weeks developing their leadership skills, while organizing a community service project.  Participants are required to commit to attending 4 seminars, as well as participate in the community service project. 

7.  Help plan student activities and student leadership opportunities

The Student Leadership Team is a group of students who assist the Student Life Department and the Student Association at La Plata with planning student activities and leadership development opportunities.  The Student Leadership Team will help students to take initiative and get involved. Applications for the Spring 2005 Student Leadership Team are due October 30, 2004 or until positions are filled. For more information about this opportunity, please contact the Student Life Department at (301) 934-7508 or stop by CC 110.

8.  Join us at the Association for College Unions International Region 4 Conference (ACUI)

The College of Southern Maryland is a member of the Association of College Unions International (ACUI).   Each year, ACUI Region 4, sponsors a statewide fall conference open to all students who either hold leadership positions or who are seeking to become involved on their campus.  Students from  two and four-year colleges and universities in Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania and West Virginia gather to learn more about leadership, communication, team building and much more.   This year’s ACUI Region 4 Leadership Conference will take place  November 12-14, 2004 at George Washington University in Washington DC. 

The ACUI Region 4 conference is open to a limited number of students at CSM.  Registration and hotel fees are paid for by the campus Student Associations, but all students must register at the Student Life Department to attend.  For more information about this opportunity, please contact the Student Life Department at (301) 934-7508 or stop by CC 110.

9. Work on a service project with other student leaders

We have ongoing opportunities for students to participate in service project retreats  with others.  Students leave behind the world of books and laboratories and enter communities grappling with issues as varied as urban poverty, racism, hunger, inadequate housing, and environmental damage. In so doing, these students are able to contribute to the community through their hard work.  Many students have hailed the experience as life-changing and the best time they've ever had.

Find out how you can participate in our next group service project.

10.  Create your own path

If you did not find what you were looking for yet, come and talk to us about what you would like to do.  We are available Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm in the Student Life Department, (301) 934-7508 or CC 110.