Student Conferences

 

As part of our commitment to our student leadership, CMSS sponsors three conferences every year. These experiences are excellent chances for students to learn new leadership skills, including how to portray a professional image as well as how to network with both peers and professionals from throughout the region and nation. Participants at the conferences are always encouraged to bring resumes and dress to impress. Topics vary from year to year, but the experience is consistently high quality.

 

 

Northeast Latino Student Leadership Conference - Check in Fall 2008 for the next conference

 

East Coast Asian American Student Union Conference - Check in Fall 2008 for the next conference

 

Black Student Leadership Conference - Check in Fall 2008 for the next conference

 

 

 

 

Experiential Learning Trips

 

Each semester, the Center for Multicultural Student Services sponsors an Experiential Learning Trip. The Experiential Learning Trip (ELT) is designed to immerse students into various cultural and ethnic experiences with which they might not otherwise be familiar with or participate. Each ELT offers challenging learning environments and promotes understanding, open communication, and team cohesiveness through small group experiences. Participants will increase their cultural awareness and knowledge regarding the trip themes and issues, while increasing self-awareness, self-understanding and personal responsibility.

 

 

Previous ELT attendees are offered the opportunity to gain leadership skills and self-confidence through trainings and positions of responsibility. These positions, called Experiential Learning Friends (ELFs), are offered to students (sophomore - senior) through an application process. Each ELF is partnered with a staff member to conduct reflection sessions to process the emotional, intellectual and personal responses to the trip. New ELFs are selected for each trip. In addition to gaining new cultural knowledge, most ELT participants create positive, continuous relationships with other trip participants and the Center for Multicultural Student Services.

 

 

 

 

For more information about our ELT trips and ELF leadership opportunities contact:

 

Ms. Tracy Lanier at 540/568-6636

 

 


Alternative Spring Break

 

CMSS has been actively pursuing the return of our Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program. ASB is done in collaboration with the Community Service Learning Office. A group of 10 students will use their entire spring break to immerse themselves in service and various cultural environments. This year the focus of the trip will be hunger and family homelessness, as we travel to work with the Interfaith Shelter at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, FL. First United is one church in a network of churches dedicated to helping families in need. Serving as both evening and overnight hosts, we will assist with dinner preparations, evening activities, helping the children with their homework, and enjoying general family interaction. We will also assist in the mornings by preparing breakfast, helping families with lunch preparations, and anything else needed to prepare them for work or school. Throughout the remaining portions of the day, students will be immersed in the various cultures in the surrounding areas. Through this experience, students develop new cultural awareness and knowledge regarding the trip themes and issues, while increasing self-awareness, self-understanding and personal responsibility.

 

 

For more information please contact:

 

Ms. Tracy Lanier at laniertl@jmu.edu

Alternative Spring Break

 

CMSS has been actively pursuing the return of our Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program. ASB is done in collaboration with the Community Service Learning Office. A group of 10 students will use their entire spring break to immerse themselves in service and various cultural environments. This year the focus of the trip will be hunger and family homelessness, as we travel to work with the Interfaith Shelter at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, FL. First United is one church in a network of churches dedicated to helping families in need. Serving as both evening and overnight hosts, we will assist with dinner preparations, evening activities, helping the children with their homework, and enjoying general family interaction. We will also assist in the mornings by preparing breakfast, helping families with lunch preparations, and anything else needed to prepare them for work or school. Throughout the remaining portions of the day, students will be immersed in the various cultures in the surrounding areas. Through this experience, students develop new cultural awareness and knowledge regarding the trip themes and issues, while increasing self-awareness, self-understanding and personal responsibility.

 

 

For more information please contact:

 

Ms. Tracy Lanier at laniertl@jmu.edu