UHP Student leader roundtable
FALL 2020
ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE
Created by the University Honors Program (UHP), the UHP Student Leader Roundtable seeks to unite student leaders across campus in order to discuss the challenges facing their student organizations. Student organizations are a key part of the college experience. The University of Cincinnati is composed of hundreds of student organizations, led by passionate members of the Bearcat community.
SUMMARY
Team Thursday
Through this group we were able to meet people from various organizations. We talked through a variety of topics including: building community, hosting events, and inter-organizational collaboration. We addressed a variety of challenges organizations faced given COVID-19. Difficult recruiting and low member engagement made us worry about transitioning leadership to new members. Together, as a leadership roundtable, we found some solutions. We shared mentorship programs, rewards/incentives for attendance/participation specific to the organization and online fundraising opportunities.
In unprecedented times like these, the UHP Student Leadership Round Table allowed us to lean on each other and share in both our challenges and successes. This experience taught us that we are not alone as leaders on campus, and in working together, we were able to collectively improve all of our organizations, making for a better Bearcat experience.
Friday Friends
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The Student Leader Round Table fosters connection and collaboration between student leaders at the University of Cincinnati. Created in response to the ongoing pandemic, the initiative provides a space for students to discuss the challenges and opportunities of leading digital communities.
These discussions offer thoughtful insight on topics such as recruitment, engagement, and strategy. From niche clubs to campus-wide coalitions, the Student Leader Round Table includes representatives from a variety of organizations who hold a diverse range of perspectives.
The Student Leader Round Table is a responsive incubator that is ultimately defined by the students who use it. In times of isolation, the Student Leader Round Table is a particularly meaningful opportunity for like-minded individuals to build relationships, explore ideas, and celebrate growth.
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FUTURE IMPLEMENTATIONS
Strengths
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Relevant and engaging discussion topics
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Connected a diverse array of student leaders from across campus who may have never met otherwise
Opportunities
Weaknesses
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Lack of collaboration between the Thursday and Friday group
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Under-utilization of the GroupMe and Teams chats
Threats
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Inviting new student leaders to the roundtable who didn’t participate this fall
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Start reflecting and summarizing takeaways more often and earlier on in the experience
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Increased collaboration between the two separate groups to avoid segmentation
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More structured conversation/better defined conversation starters
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Schedule conflicts that create a need for two or more meeting groups again
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Rehashing the same discussion topics from last semester
