Office of Student Organizations and Activities to Host ACUI I-LEAD Connect Conference
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2019) — The University of Kentucky's Office of Student Organizations and Activities is hosting the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) I-LEAD Connect Institute from Thursday, Jan. 9, to Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in the Gatton Student Center.
I-LEAD Connect is a student leadership development program designed to teach student participants how to be effective leaders through group activities, interpersonal and intercultural communication and self-reflection. I-LEAD Connect is held over the course of three days and works to create a space for students to develop the skills necessary to succeed in the ever changing global workforce.
The program respects students’ unique identities including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual traditions, age, ability, learning styles, and socioeconomic status. The institute’s goal is to build a community centered on mutual respect of all individuals, where cultural and intellectual diversity is valued, and where all individuals share the responsibility for creating a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment.
“We’re always looking for different ways to connect students to leadership opportunities and this is a great one," said Jessica Chandler, Office of Student Organizations and Activities program director. "ACUI I-LEAD Connect is designed to teach student participants how to be effective leaders. Through emphasis on three core values, leadership, communication, intercultural proficiency, we’re helping students foster an equitable and inclusive space in which students develop their abilities to thrive in global and interconnected communities.”
The institute is free and open to all students. Meals, housing and additional materials are provided. A link to the application and student nomination forms can be found here.
ACUI is a nonprofit educational organization focused on creating a relationship between college union and student activities professionals from hundreds of schools in seven countries. ACUI strives to provide a welcoming and inclusive community for those involved.
The Office of Student Organizations and Activities inspires students to explore the many opportunities for involvement with the campus community and beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to make connections aligned with their own interests, concerns and passions to make an impact on campus and their personal lives. The office provides students with the tools for success and guides their growth during their time at the University of Kentucky.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.