University Fellows Experience

Mission Statement

The University Fellows Experience strengthens students’ leadership skills, prepares students for lives of service, and promotes students’ professional preparations. The program fosters its mission by:

• working with students who desire to lead in the development of creative, courageous, and compassionate ideas;
• helping students recognize that successful leaders are driven by a desire to be of service to others;
• assisting students to discover and embrace cultural similarities and differences in ways that promote meaningful and life-longing learning;
• teaching students that discipline, tenacity, and resilience are foundations personal development is achieved;
• engaging students in experiences that develop competence, character, and confidence;
• mentoring students by University faculty and staff members;
• helping students understand themselves and the responsibility that comes with that understanding;
• assisting students to gain the capacity to generate a sense of belonging in others, making them feel valued for their contributions;
• assisting students in applying for graduation and professional schools, professional internships, and career positions; and
• allowing students to reflect on their individual strengths and preferences.

Educational Outcomes

1. Students will be able to think critically about change processes and obstacles to change.
2. Students will understand the history of leadership and current leadership theories and understand how leadership models are put into practice personally, locally, and globally.
3. Students will gain knowledge of diverse cultures and develop their own competence about the dimensions of difference.
4. Students will learn to act out of humanitarian values, such as engaging in social responsibility and serving as positive social change agents.
5. Students will develop a sense of confidence and belief in themselves and their ideas, enabling them to explore and actualize their professional goals.

Benefits of the University Fellows Experience

Fellows will enjoy many special benefits by being enrolled in the program. Some of these benefits are:

• Gain skills and confidence to achieve a competitive edge with employers
• Enhanced academic advising
• Acquire skills to transform self and society
• Focus on self-awareness and culture
• Learn to understand the viewpoint and needs of others
• Learn to articulate your value when preparing for interviews
• Enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Close-knit community of engaged students and faculty
• Civic engagement team projects
• Leadership development
• Focus on widening perspective and spanning boundaries
• Participation in the Chowan University Student Research Conference
• Focus on making a difference
• Development of new and diverse friendships, a sense of accomplishment, and a wider perspective on issues and life itself
• Induction into the program to include a pinning ceremony
• Early registration for courses
• Invitations to special lectures and cultural events
• Fellows designation on transcripts and diploma
• Recognition at commencement to include graduation cord
• Recognition at awards ceremonies
• Membership in the Chowan Fellows Association

Stages of the University Fellows Experience

Explore

In the first year, Fellows explore their interests in leadership and service through involvement in the Chowan Fellows Association. This allows Fellows to develop their skills while discovering what leadership and service means.

Expand

In the second year, Fellows expand their involvement in the Chowan Fellows Association. Initial coursework focuses on issues of leadership and connects Fellows to positive action through service-learning opportunities.

Elevate

In the third year, Fellows elevate their role in the Chowan Fellows Association through purposeful involvement. Fellows continue their coursework in leadership and service and are provided initial professional preparation guidance while participating in off-campus cultural enrichment activities.

Empower

In the fourth year, Fellows empower others by serving as Chowan Fellows Association mentors to first-year and second-year members. Fellows receive individualize assistance for post-graduation opportunities and reflect on their University Fellows Experience.

Admission and Graduation Requirements

The University Fellows Experience constitutes an academic minor. To declare a minor in the University Fellows Experience, a student must have earned between 15 and 60 credit hours with a 2.0 grade point average or higher.

To complete the requirements of the University Fellows Experience minor, Fellows must complete a total of 15 credit hours and maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher. University Fellows Experience courses count toward free electives or, depending on course topic, the Global Awareness requirements for students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.

If a Fellow falls below a 2.0, he or she will be placed on probationary status. A Fellow on probation has one semester (fall or spring) to raise his or her GPA to a 2.0 or higher. A Fellow may be removed from the program for violating the Policy on Academic Integrity or for a student life infraction.