Leaders from various campus organizations will gather Saturday at the second UT Leadership Conference to learn and discuss issues concerning leadership on campus.
“I think the conference is a great way for people to meet with others who are in organizations on campus and develop leadership skills,” said Jessie Hinch, a senior studying speech communications.
Participants range from athletes to Greeks, said Amy Ibach, a member of the planning committee.
As the participants arrive, they will be handed a booklet detailing the 27 workshops being conducted during the day. Of the various workshops offered, the participants will select to attend three of interest. Programs include topics such as after-graduation success, fund raising, leadership transition and ethics, Ibach said.
“Students should look at what interests them as opposed to what a friend is presenting,” Hinch said. “People have a tendency to go to the ones where they know the presenters or ones that are personality oriented. Selection depends on the person.”
The workshops are designed to give students more information on topics that will be useful to them in the future.
“Not all the workshops are leadership stuff,” Hinch said. “It’s a lot of common sense stuff that you may not get from classes and advisers. It’s definitely useful.”
Some changes from last year’s conference have been made to better suit student needs.
“According to student feedback, we shortened the conference,” Ibach said. “Last year, they went to four workshops, and this year they’re attending three. Also, we limited the number of students that can present. Presenters are mostly faculty and staff this year.”
Although the number of students presenting has been limited, a select few will be leading a workshop. Those presenting said they notice the difference in leading a workshop and simply attending the conference.
“Presenting takes longer because you have to put more into it,” Hinch said. “Attending is a lot of fun.”
The conference, which is free, is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the University Center. Although all the slots are full, the planning committee is still accepting names to be put on the waiting list.
Call 974-2313 for more information or to get on the waiting list.
