Leader Scholars Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

I have been given a scholarship to the new leadership program. What does this mean?
Well, first things first: Congratulations! You will be joining a new, cutting-edge program designed to develop Christian leaders to impact the Kingdom. We are excited about tapping into your potential as a leader. You will be eligible to receive $2,500 each year over four years as part of the scholarship. To fulfill your obligations, you will need to attend regular leadership meetings, take two leadership classes, and fulfill a 150-hour leadership practicum. More importantly, the program will teach you the theory of leadership and give you the opportunity to act and perfect your abilities in a real-world setting. Our prayer for you is that God will dream His dreams through you.

Why would I want to participate?
We are biased, of course, but we see this as a huge opportunity for you. Most young people learn about leadership through hit-and-miss moments. You learn a little here and little there. After a while, you might step back and say, "Wow, I know a thing or two about leadership." Our program invites you to think much more intentionally about leadership. Who are the great leaders and how might we learn from them? Who's saying the most interesting and powerful things about leadership? What are your current leadership skills and how do you become a well-rounded leader who has the skills and the experience to impact his or her community? You will be part of a tight-knit community of students who are studying and working to become better leaders. We hope that you're excited by this. (We certainly are!)

Can I participate in the LSI program even if I am not a scholarship recipient?
ABSOLUTELY! We are open to students of all majors and interests. Our only prerequisites are that you are eager to enhance your leadership ability and committed to the program! A simple application is available from Becci Rothfuss, by request. Please feel free to let us know if you have more questions.

Can leadership be taught?
Absolutely! Again, a few people might be viewed as "natural leaders," but the vast majority of JBU students have some leadership ability, and this group can blossom when they are given information (via coursework and informal seminars/workshops) and the opportunities to act on the information (practicum) and reflect on their actions with the help of student leaders and faculty members.

What does the program entail?
First, each participant must take two classes: LDR 1553 - Intro to Leadership Studies in the spring of your first year and LDR 3553 - Leadership Practicum in your junior or senior year. We've included the course descriptions so that you get a better feel for the coursework:

LDR 1553 - Introduction to Leadership Studies
An interdisciplinary introduction to historical and current theories of leadership. Emphasis is on leadership as social process involving the interaction of leaders and followers in different contexts. Topics include leadership competencies, such as leading groups and individuals, and biblical perspectives on leadership. Offered spring semester.

LDR 3553 - Leadership Practicum
A structured internship in applied leadership, open to Leadership Scholarship recipients. Students typically serve their sponsoring organization, committing a minimum of 150 hours. They also take part in a companion seminar in which the interns recount the goals of their learning contracts, their specific responsibilities, highlights from daily journals, feedback from mentors/supervisors, and professional growth experiences. Prerequisite: LDR 1553.

However, there's a lot more to the program than simply taking the two classes. As we've said previously, you are part of a learning community based around leadership. We will meet regularly as a group and for one-on-one time with faculty. Some of these meetings will be to help you develop specific skills and require you to complete real-world leadership tasks; other meetings will simply be time to fellowship with your peers and teachers. The entire freshman LSI community will have an overnight retreat during the fall semester. This will be a time of sharing community, including both work and fun.

Do I have to be a Business or an Outdoor Leadership major to do well in the program?
Not at all. We believe that leaders will come from all majors. In fact, we believe that leadership needs to be practiced in all facets of the university and throughout our life spheres. Our program invites students from a number of areas (political science as well religion majors, education students as well engineering majors). Each person will have different interests, and this will contribute to the diversity of the program. In addition to learning from courses and arranged experiences, you will learn a great deal from one another.

I don't really think of myself as a leader. Will I fit in?
While some students discover their calling as leaders in high school, our experience suggests that the vast majority of students who will one day play leadership roles do not yet see themselves as leaders when they enter college. Maybe they weren't the star quarterback, the student council president, and perhaps never held the lead in the school play—that's okay. We would invite you to look beyond the romantic stereotypes of strong leaders. Today's leaders, for example, tend to possess some of the following characteristics: smart, flexible, aware, empathetic, savvy, behind-the-scenes types. In short, don't underestimate your untapped potential to be a leader. Give yourself a chance and see what happens!

What kind of timeline are we talking about?
We have a great deal of flexibility built into the program; however, our preference is for each participant to (1) participate in the retreat their first semester; (2) take Introduction to Leadership Studies in the spring of their freshman year; and (3) take the practicum in your junior or senior year. Keep in mind that you are required to devote 150 hours to your practicum project. This may occur during the summer and may overlap with the fall or spring semester framing the experience. Plan appropriately.

What is the practicum project?
This is an excellent question. The truth is that we don't know yet because you haven't told us. One of our hopes is that you will learn how to let God dream through you. Thus, the practicum will take a different form for each person who goes through the program. The idea is quite simple—design a program or a project in which you demonstrate the leadership skills that you have been developing in your first few years in JBU's program. We want you to tap into your God-given passion for your project. What impact do you hope to have? You might work with the organization who awarded you the LSI scholarship or a church or summer camp. You might work with a ministry in downtown Little Rock. You might develop a leadership program for area youth. Our classes are designed, in part, to jumpstart your thinking about the project, and our faculty will assist you in the design and implementation of your project or program. We will also provide feedback on your work.

I heard that I have to spend 150 hours on my practicum project. How will I ever do that?
Yes, the practicum requires 150 hours of service. This can be fulfilled over a traditional semester or summer or might stretch out over a summer and semester. It depends upon your particular project and time restraints. Keep in mind the goal of the practicum—you're putting your skills to work. Thus, the 150 hours allows you to experience leadership over a sustained period of time. Consider it OJT, on the job training. You will learn from your experience and have time to reflect and receive feedback from your sponsors and faculty. Our belief is that you will find this time—all 150 hours—some of your most rewarding time spent at JBU. After all, you'll be putting your education to use. That's time and money well spent!

I was nominated for the Leadership Scholarship through my church or my summer camp. Do I have to do my practicum with them?
We would encourage you to work with your nominating organization, but it's not required. Again, you don't have to decide on your practicum right away. After Intro to Leadership Studies in the spring of your freshman year, you will have a much better feel for your own leadership interests and abilities. That said, it's never too early to start thinking about these issues!