The decision was made to keep the conference format the same as it has been over the past few years. Throughout the weekend, students actively engaged in a variety of large group immersion exercises and small team meetings in which they built a sense of team and participated in dialogues. To conclude the conference, a final group project required each small team to take a practical approach towards social change by selecting 1-2 current campus issues that they would like to see change, creating a plan of action for change, and presenting this plan to the entire conference community. Upon our return to campus, a summary of each of the group's "Inspired Annoyance" project was presented to the entire Division of Student Affairs.

This year's conference goals continued to be as follows:

To engage students in a values-based, experiential curriculum that would foster personal leadership development, build a diverse community, and establish meaningful student relationships.

Curriculum

This year's conference was again centered on a leadership text and simulated/immersion exercises. The text selected for this year’s conference was The Social Change Model (HERI, 1996). Students received an article summarizing the model as well as a short piece about the Musical Metaphor. This was the first time we had used a text that we had used for a previous WLC. There were a number of reasons for this, including the fact that DePaul University’s new strategic plan, Vision Twenty12, highlights the importance of the socially responsible leader. Thus, the Social Change Model seemed to be a highly appropriate model to use to start students thinking about this concept.

The text focused on the following concepts:

Individual Values of Leadership

• Consciousness of Self
• Commitment
• Congruence

Group Values of Leadership

• Controversy with Civility
• Collaboration
• Common Purpose

Societal Values of Leadership

• Citizenship

One hundred and twenty four student leaders participated in the weekend leadership conference. Based upon participant evaluations, the Winter Leadership Conference 2007 proved to be quite a success. Retreat evaluations were presented to all 124 students (including Peer Facilitators). 89.4% of conference participants returned completed evaluation forms, and 90% of the Peer Facilitators completed evaluation forms.

Following is a list of the evaluation highlights:

• 97.8% of conference participants agreed that the values/qualities identified for the conference are important to their development as a leader
• 96.7% would recommend this type of conference experience to another student.
• 95.6% believed that the conference contributed to their personal development.
• 95.6% of students felt that their facilitators established good relationships between team members and encouraged group participation; and 97.8% believed that the facilitators created a positive learning environment during their individual team sessions.
• 95.6% of conference participants believed that they were able to gain a respect for diverse perspectives of others, as well as feet more comfortable moving across cultural, racial, and ethnic boundaries.
• 93.5% believed that the values/qualities identified for the conference were facilitated in a meaningful way.
• 93.5% of students felt that the exercises they experienced in the large group promoted their personal development.
• 93.5% of students felt that their experience with the conference would increase their desire to further engage in leadership involvement at DePaul.

Some other general themes noted throughout the students’ evaluations of the conference were as follows:

• Students had positive comments about the reading. In particular, they connected with the 7 Cs (especially Collaboration) and related well to the musical metaphor.
• Students seemed to really appreciate the opportunity to meet and network with other students.
• Students mentioned that the WLC helped them to become more confident.
• Students stated that the WLC helped them to safely step out of their comfort zones.
• Students said that they began to see themselves as leaders (some for the first time) and to better realize their own potential.
• Students made many comments about the Diversity Shuffle (a.k.a. Crossing the Line) activity. They felt it opened their minds and helped to see how much people have in common while still seeing that every individual has their own story.
• There were positive comments about the DiSC inventory and how it helped people better understand different leadership styles.

A special thank you must go out to all of the departments that helped out with this year's leadership conference: Student Life, Campus Recreation, the Office of Academic Enhancement, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, University Ministry, Student Center and Student Affairs. Also, a HUGE thank you must go out to our Peer Facilitators and student planning committee!