New leadership studies department, master’s degree,  expanded day of service

Every cadet who joins the South Carolina Corps of Cadets at The Citadel makes a commitment to focus on learning to lead. The college is known for its mission to develop principled leaders, accomplished through mandatory leadership and ethics studies in a military culture that provides real-life leadership challenges. The college’s lists of alumni generals, U.S. ambassadors, CEOs, congressmen, college presidents, governors and senators underscore the success of the college’s mission.

Now, the college’s already robust menu of leadership-based programs and activities is expanding. There is a new Department of Leadership Studies, a new Master’s of Science in Leadership, a new leadership themed football game event called The Citadel Makes a Difference, and the Fourth Annual Leadership Day will reach even more people in the community.

New Department of Leadership Studies and Leadership Studies Master’s Degree

Emerging leaders around the world from any academic or professional background can now benefit from The Citadel’s deeply-rooted and proven leadership studies programs. A new, online Masters of Science in Leadership now brings the college’s excellence in the education of leaders to students far beyond Charleston. Now anyone from service people stationed around the world to professionals already working in a variety of fields can apply to take the new leadership graduate program online while at their military bases or homes.

The Leadership Studies graduate degree is housed with the college’s other leadership-related certificates and degrees under the umbrella of a new Leadership Studies Department. Read more here.

Expanded Leadership Day of Service

On Wed., Oct. 22, the familiar uniforms of the Corps will be spotted throughout the Lowcountry when The Citadel holds its annual Leadership Day. Through the coordination and direction of the Krause Center for Leadership & Ethics, almost every member of the Corps will be involved in leadership service or learning. Beginning as early as 6 a.m., more than 1,000 freshman and sophomore cadets will spread out across the Lowcountry providing volunteer service. They will assist veterans, public school students and neighbors. By the end of the day the cadets will have provided more than 6,000 hours of volunteer service.

Students from The Citadel Graduate College, students who are veterans and those on active duty with the Army, US Air Force, Navy and Marines will also participate in Leadership Day activities.

“Citadel cadets volunteer all year long as part of our strategic emphasis on developing principled leaders,” said Col. Conway Saylor, director of Service Learning and Civil Engagement at The Citadel’s Krause Center. “But on this day, there is a singular focus on service learning, and that is powerful. It builds unity for the Corps and instills a passion for community engagement.”

Regular classes are replaced by learning experiences each Leadership Day to emphasize the importance of ethics and service. One of the new activities is called Run for a Reason. Almost 100 cadets will run to raise money for five agencies including Camp Rise Above, Dragon Boat Charleston, Johns Island Rural Mission, One80 Place, and Special Olympics District 6, who will have representatives there to cheer on the runners. The race departs from the college’s Mark Clark Hall at 10 a.m. with cadets running in formation through Charleston, across the Cooper River Bridge, and ending at Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.

Some of the other service locations and activities include:
•Military Magnet Academy (heroism program and parade review with Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Gary Beikirch)
•Heroism teaching and projects (at more than 18 partner public schools)
•Association for the Blind
•Bocce Tournament with Charleston Department of Parks & Recreation
•Cannon St. YMCA
•Carolina Hospice Care
•Charleston Meals on Wheels
•Clean Up Charleston program
•East Cooper Meals on Wheels
•Election poll training
•Hampton Park clean up and repair
•James Island Rural Mission
•Low Country Food Bank
•Low Country Orphan Relief
•Marion Square clean up and repairs
•Oyster shell recycling
•Ronald McDonald House
•Savannah Place senior center veterans’ visit
•Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
•Veterans’ Administration moving veterans
•Water Missions landscaping
•Windwood Farms