Andrews Leadership & Ed Admin students, if you didn’t get to go on the Higher Ed study tour this past spring, you might want to check out the blog from the trip to see what you missed. Great pictures and news articles about the trip!
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Why I’m in the Leadership Program Part 2
This morning we learned about the philosophy of the Leadership and Educational Administration department. These are the main concepts and they fit my own core values very well.
- A Christian worldview is fundamental
- Human dignity and moral well-being must be protected
- Knowledge is socially constructed
- Learning is not hierarchical
- Change is inevitable
- Servant-leadership is the leadership concept of choice
- Life is often ambiguous
Therefore the program is dynamic, life-related, job-embedded, builds competencies, builds a learning community, and is individualized.
This morning’s inspiration focused on the department value of human dignity.
- God loves us.
- We are unique.
- God loves us uniquely.
We also thought about these rules (patterns).
- Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you.
- Platinum Rule (Gold Shined): Do to others what they need done to them to experience is love and meet their love needs.
- Silver Rule: Do to others what you want.
- Bronze Rule: Do to others what they do to you and more.
- Iron Rule: Do to others BEFORE they to do you.
Competency, the foundation of our learning plan, is made up of knowledge, skills/performances, and beliefs/attitudes.
The professors are experts in setting up experiences that allow us to demonstrate or show our expertise. They believe that we have expertise and valuable past experiences and honor that in the learning experiences.
For these reasons and more, I know that this program is right where I belong.
Why the Andrews Leadership Program?
So, why, you ask, did you choose the Andrews University Leadership program out of so many other choices?
First, for the faith component. Andrews University professors are Seventh-day Adventist Christians and I know that my own faith will be challenged and will grow in my learning at Andrews. I crave the prayerful environment and look forward to learning with other Christians.
Second, for the self-directed learning. Ever since I learned about this program in the ’90s when I taught some email workshops for the participants, I’ve known that if I ever pursued a Ph.D. it would be the AU Leadership program. I’m intrigued by the competency based format, attracted to the portfolio defense process, and entrenched in on-the-job learning. Therefore I believe this program fits my learning needs & style.
Finally, the Leadership goals match my own.
Leadership prepares leaders for service in their professional forums. I want to serve better.
Leadership is based on the demonstration of key competencies and is individually customized, reflecting the practical skills acquired in the workplace. I want practical learning embedded in my work.
Leadership is a community of learners dedicated to the principles of Christian service. I want to be part of a learning community of others committed to Christian service.
For these reasons, plus a few personal reasons, I have chosen the AU Leadership Program to pursue a PhD.
Out on a Leadership Lim 