Honors 1990

HONORS SEMINAR - LEADERSHIP

Dr. Cheri Tillman

Office Phone: 229-245-2493  

Office Location: University Center 1116

Office Hours: Monday 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
                        Tuesday & Thursday 10:30 am - 11:00 am and noon - 12:30 pm
                        Wednesday noon - 2:00 pm
                        If these times are not convenient then we can make an appointment.

E-Mail: cgtillma@valdosta.edu   Homepage: http://www.valdosta.edu/~cgtillma

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
        ~Anonymous

Introduction: A major goal of college is to educate men and women who will make important differences in the world, affecting academic, professional, civic, social, and business outcomes.  Three of the most important skills in achieving a meaningful education are leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills.  The Honors Seminar on Leadership is designed to assist students in developing these three important skills. The class will have an interdisciplinary focus, designed for students entering the Honors Program.

Course Description:  Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program.  A seminar, usually with an interdisciplinary focus, designed for students entering the Honors Program. Covers acculturation into the Honors Program, along with exposure to methods of inquiry, modeling behavior, and resources of the university community.  This Honors 1990 will be an introduction to the nature of leadership, with a focus on the history and origins of leadership, theoretical approaches to leadership, and the essence of contemporary leadership. Application of these concepts to life experiences will be addressed through discussion, case studies, guest speakers and presentations.

Honors Objectives:  Students in the University Honors Program should demonstrate competency in the following objectives by the time they finish the Honors Program.  These objectives are connected to the Honors 1990 course objectives.
1.    Effective written communication skills (including ability to use research).
2.    Effective oral communication skills.
3.    Effective quantitative skills.
4.    The ability to analyze and synthesize a broad range of material.
5.    The ability to make meaningful connections between various disciplines.
6.    The ability to formulate a problem, develop a plan of action, and prove or disprove an hypothesis (or to create and produce an original work or do research).
7.    The ability to take greater responsibility for own learning (demonstrate curiosity, motivation, risk-taking characteristics, and the ability to bring to bear logic and knowledge of the issue being discussed).
Course Objectives: 
Students will:
1. Develop a personal philosophy of  leadership.
2. Examine the impact of ethical decision-making in effective leadership.
3. Critically analyze different leadership scenarios and develop solutions based on a personal philosophy of leadership.
4. Classify existing models, philosophies, and theories of leadership.
5. Draw some general conclusions regarding the relationship that exists between power, conflict, decision-making, and moral leadership.

Course Requirements:

• General: There is not a required textbook for this class.  However, there will be several assigned reading assignments.  Class time will be divided into several components including lectures, guest speakers, small group exercises, discussions and presentations.  Readings will be assigned for each class period.  It is essential that students come to class prepared and take part in all small group exercises and discussions.

• Attendance: Class attendance is required. You are allowed two absences during the semester. Three absences will cause the final grade to be dropped 10 points. Four absences will result in the drop of 20 points. Anyone having over four absences will fail the course. Please note: two tardy class arrivals will count as one absence. Class assignments must be completed on time. No work will be accepted late without prior approval from the professor.  If you miss a test because you are sick, I will need a written excuse from a doctor in order for you to make-up the exam.

• Access:  Students requiring classroom accommodations or modifications because of a documented disability should discuss this need with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. In order to receive special accommodations, students must be registered with the Access Office for Students with Disabilities (1115 Nevins Hall). If students are not registered, then they should contact that office at 245-2498 (V/VP) and 219-1348 (TTY).
• Civility: Students are expected to be civil.  The following is not an exhaustive list of requirements for civil behavior: do not engage in educationally disruptive behavior or language; turn off cell phones and pagers; refrain from eating, sleeping, reading extraneous material, and browsing the Internet or checking email in computer classrooms; do not arrive late or leave early without permission.  Disruptive students will be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent.  If the behavior continues the student will not be permitted to return to the course.
• Academic Honesty: Students must not engage in academic dishonesty.  In accordance with the Student Handbook's Student Code of Conduct, academic dishonesty includes writing another student's essay, using another student's writing as one's own, or using writing obtained from an online paper mill; obtaining or providing in an unauthorized manner "any material pertaining to the conduct of a class, including but not limited to tests, examinations, laboratory equipment, and roll books"; and engaging in plagiarism, the undocumented use of words and/or ideas from sources such as books, articles, and the World Wide Web. Types of academic dishonesty are (but not limited to):  altering score/grade, falsifying lab results or references, using unauthorized notes or devices, copying and plagiarism.
  Consequences:
  FIRST OFFENSE: The student will earn a “0” on the assignment, test, project, etc.
  SECOND OFFENSE: The student will earn the letter grade “F” for the course and an academic referral form will be filed with the Student Conduct Office in the Dean of Students Office.
• Problems: Anyone experiencing problems with exams, note taking, or anything else of a course-related nature is encouraged to consult with me during office hours. If illness or family related problems keep you from class for an extended period, the proper procedure is to inform Student Affairs (333-5941) who will, in turn, inform all of your instructors.
• Overall Grade: Grades for each component of the overall course will be computed based on a total 100-point scale. Each assignment will be given points.  Below is the list of assignments, total maximum points possible, and the total number of points for each letter grade.   Uncompleted assignments will be given a zero and will be averaged in the final grade.

  A 90-100
  B 80-89
  C 70-79
  D 65-69
  F < 65

  ASSIGNMENT                                 POSSIBLE POINTS 

  Case Studies                                        10 points
  Reaction Papers                                   10 points
  Leadership Style Paper                         10 points 
  Individual Presentation                          20 points
  Group Presentation                               20 points
  Leadership Quiz                                      5 points
  Personality Survey                                   5 points                   
  Honors Events                                      10 points  (Events Form)
  Final/Ropes Course                              10 points  
  Total                                                   100 points

   

• Honors/Campus Events:  You must attend at least 5 campus events before Thanksgiving Break.  Three of the 5 events must be Honors Program related.  Your reaction must be written on the events form.  In your reaction, you need to include comments regarding what you thought of the event (ex. I never thought a play would be so interesting.), an appraisal of the event (ex. I had a great time at the football game.), something new you experienced or learned (ex. I’ve never been to a college volleyball game before and…), and etc.  Possible events include (but are not limited to):  any Honors sponsored events, sporting events, plays, symphony, Parents' Weekend, Welcome Week, The Happening, astronomy viewings, campus organization meeting, and etc. 

Case Study 1            Case Study 19
Case Study 3            Case Study 20
Case Study 5            Case Study 21
Case Study 13          Case Study 23
Case Study 15          Case Study 24

**I reserve the right to change this syllabus at any time.

August 18                            Introduction 

August 20                            Course Overview & Syllabus 

August 25                            Icebreakers (bring 5 visual aids that tell about you)

August 27                            Icebreakers

September 1                         Labor Day Holiday

September 8                         Speaker-John Eunice

September 10                     What is Leadership
                                          *Case Study 3 Due
                                          *Reaction Paper Due
                                          *Read Assignment:  http://www.leadersdirect.com/leadintro.html
                                          A new way of thinking about leadership.  Then take the leadership quiz.
                                         Click Quiz that is located under the article, print it out and bring to class. 

September 15                     Speaker-Bob Ator

September 17                     Leadership Traits
                                          *Case Study 5 Due
                                          *Reaction Paper Due
                                          *Reading Assignment:  Bring in any article about leadership traits.

September 22                     Leadership Styles
                                          *Case Study 13 Due 
                                          *Reading Assignment:   Go to this website
                                                  http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl-leadershipquiz.htm 
                                            Take the leadership style quiz, print out the results to bring to class. 
                                            Then read this article:                                                   
                                                 http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/lewin_style.htm    

 September 24                     Speaker- Kelly Turner
                                           *Case Study 15 Due
                                           *Reaction Paper Due

September 29                     Speaker- Tim Golden
                                          *Case Study 19 Due
                                          *Reaction Paper Due 

October 1                           Leadership Activity (Dress to move around)
                                          *Case Study 20 Due
                                          *Reaction Paper Due 

October 3                         Ropes Course 2 pm-6 pm 

October 6                          Leadership Activity (Dress to move around)
                                         *Case Study 21 Due 

October 8                         Leadership Activity (Dress to move around)
                                        *Case Study 23 Due 

October 13                       Fall Break 

October 15                      *Case Study 24 Due 

October 20                      Leader Presentation ( KT, Cassie & Marie)

October 22                      Leader Presentation (Mollie, Dayna & Tyrina, and Charda & Tessica)

October 24                     Ropes Course 2 pm-6 pm
                                      Dinner at my House after Ropes Course 

October 27                     Leader Presentation (Cassie & Katie, Brian & Courtney and Joe) 

October 29                     Leader Presentation (Dustin) 

November 3                    Leadership Case

November 5                    Leadership Case

November 10                  Leadership Case 

November 12                  Leadership Activity (Dress to move around) 

November 17                  Leadership Activity (Dress to move around)

November 19                  Presentations (KT & Mollie)

November 24                  Presentations (Dustin, Marie & Cari)

November 26                 Thanksgiving Holiday

December 1                    Presentations (Courtney, Charda & Tyrina)

December 3                    Presentations (Tessica, Cassie & Joe)

December 8                    Presentations (Katie, Dayna & Brian)
                                       Last Class Day

Presentation-Analysis of Famous Leaders 

Students can select any type of leader for whom there is sufficient information to provide a good analysis of leadership processes and outcomes.  Examples include political leaders, military leaders, business executives, religious leaders, sports coaches, and leaders of social movements.

The student should read at least three separate sources (biographies and articles) that provide enough detail to identify specific traits and skills, behaviors, influence processes, and relevant aspects of the situation.  The most useful type of source is a biographical account of the leader’s activities and accomplishments.  Other relevant sources may include:  an autobiographical account or memoirs written by the leader, a detailed, analytical article written by someone besides the leader, filmed biographies or documentaries about the leader, and dramatized accounts of significant events involving the leader.  All sources should be clearly cited in the PowerPoint.

A minimum requirement of the presentation is to identify specific leadership traits and behaviors and why the behaviors were appropriate or inappropriate in the situation faced by the leader.  Even better is to identify reasons why the leader was successful enough to become famous.  Both strengths and weaknesses of each leader should be identified.  Issues of ethical leadership should be considered as well.  It is helpful to use quotes and detailed descriptions of selected incidents to support conclusions about the leader’s behavior and influence on followers.  The source for any quotes or factual details should be clearly cited.

Students will describe one detailed incident involving effective or ineffective behavior by the leader to support their analysis.  Each presentation should take no longer than 10 minutes. 

Leadership Paper

Must be a minimum of 4 pages typed, double spaced in size 12 font.  Your paper should be in a folder with a title page and include a minimum of 5 sources in your references page. (Title page and reference page do not count as part of the 4 pages.) Identify and explain the leadership style that describes you.  Include the results (actual print out) of your personality survey and leadership quiz.  Discuss those results.  Do these results support your leadership style?  Explain why or why not.  Give at least one example of how you may take a leadership role in the future.