CORRECTION Editor’s note: This story has been revised to correct the impression that additional students still have time to attend meeting to qualify for positions. Instead, students who have not already begun the process do not qualify. The Courtbouillon regrets the error.
NEW ORLEANS (February 25, 2021) – Virtual elections for Dillard student leaders will take place March 31 after a rigorous two-and-a-half-week student leader selection process orchestrated by the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership.
All students who desire to run or be appointed to a student position, as well as those who desire student employment as a resident/community assistant or first-year experience mentor and others, must meet certain criteria, including attending informational sessions and at least one 90-minute leadership workshop per week. These sessions began Feb. 1 and will run through March 12, followed by interviews.
Three types of student leadership opportunities are up for grabs:
- Elected positions on the Royal Court, including Mr. and Miss Dillard, and the Student Government Association (executive officers, senators and justices).
- Appointed positions, such as slots on the Dillard Activity Board, or DAB, and the Leadership Involvement Team, or LIT.
- Student employment, including resident assistant, community assistant and first-year experience mentors, and others.
Resident and community assistants are responsible for community development and administrative processes for residential students. FYE mentors serve as academic mentors and teaching assistants for Convocation/First-Year Seminar. The Chaplain’s Council plan chapel services and provide spiritual guidance to student peers. Peer career coaches encourage career and professional development opportunities. And D-ELITE involves peer mentoring and advising.
Criteria
In addition to the required workshops, applicants must be in good academic and judicial standing and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for SGA executive officers, Mr. and Miss Dillard and FYE mentors; 2.75 for the royal court and other SGA offices; and 2.5 for positions as an resident/community assistant and with D-ELITE, DAB, LIT, Bleu FIT.
Student leaders also may not hold two or more positions in the following groups:
– Community/resident assistant
– FYE mentor
– D-ELITE
– SGA, DAB or LIT president or vice president
– Mister or Miss Dillard
Information provided by Student Engagement said student leaders foster an environment where all students feel supported in the pursuit of their academic and personal development. The student leaders should possess traits such as confidence, humility, trustworthiness, optimism, courageousness, enthusiasm and adaptability.
The required workshops will provide training in human skills, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, conceptual skills, technical skills, resumes, interview prep and more.
For additional information, email [email protected].