UConn SEAL
Students Engaged in Academic Leadership
Program Description
An initiative developed out of the Vice Provost for Diversity's office, the SEAL Program cultivates leadership, professional development, and engagement among talented UConn students. Entering the program as sophomores, SEAL fellows will remain in the program through their senior year at UConn, provided they maintain GPA requirements and are actively engaged in the program's activities. SEAL fellows will be granted professional networking and mentoring opportunities, dinners as a group, opportunities to meet and personally engage high-profile visitors to the University will contribute to weekly blogs, among other activities, and receive an annual stipend of $1,000, which will be paid in halves at the end of each semester. Additionally, first generation students with exceptionally high GPAs may qualify for special distinction and financial support as Coca-Cola SEAL Fellows.
Mission
The mission of Students Engaged in Academic Leadership is to provide a range of opportunities to complement the academic classroom experience by way of workshops, symposia and programming to sharpen professional skills and leadership. SEAL fellows embrace the highest ideals of the UConn community and strive for service, leadership, and academic excellence.
Scope
SEAL fellows will be continually engaged in leadership activities and training within the University and will serve as representatives of the University to the greater community during their three years as members of the team. Fellows attend monthly meetings, in addition to an end of the academic year banquet. In their first year, sophomore fellows will have the opportunity to engage in programming which will emphasize the benefits of a range of enrichment programs at the University, from study abroad, to peer mentoring and summer internships. For junior and senior fellows, the focus will be on professional development, interview skills, resume writing and networking. Workshops will be arranged where the students will have the opportunity to strategize for the application process for post-graduate study or employment. Fellows also meet with professional and graduate students who will serve as mentors. They continue to attend monthly dinner meetings with SEAL Advisory Board members and special guests, in addition to the end of the year banquet. Fellows will also be required to attend two team activities per semester and two events of their individual choice per semester. The program encourages the Fellows to hone their leadership skills, and in this spirit the students will be responsible for developing various multimedia platforms for outreach, such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. All published material will require approval from the SEAL Advisory Board. Creativity and problem solving will be cultivated in a range of exercises.
Who can apply: current UConn sophomores
Application Deadline: January 6, 2013.
To apply: http://www.diversity.uconn.edu/seal.html
For more information, contact: Denishia Harris at denishia.harris@uconn.edu