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SMC Leadership Institute

The SMC Leadership Institute is a program that provides opportunities for leaders to engage in leadership development that considers their racial and ethnic identities with an emphasis on individual and social cultural development. The institute utilizes community-based learning and social justice principles to ensure students are developing comprehensively. 

Applications are now OPEN for the 2025-2026 year! Applications close at 9:00am on Monday, March 3rd, 2025! Apply Below!

Outcomes

As a result of participating in the SMC Leadership Institute students will

1. Develop meaningful relationships with other students through community building.  (Community Development)
2. Recognize their role and responsibility as a student leader (Leadership Development)
3. Discover techniques to navigating relationships with appropriate boundaries (Individual Development)
4. Reflect on leadership identity including values, strengths, and goals with the intent of implementing within leadership roles (Leadership Development)
5. Examine the systems of privilege and oppression with the intention to create a more humane and equitable system for others (Community Development)
6. Assess the value and importance of diversity, including intersectionality to develop strategies to create more inclusive environments (Social Cultural Development)
7. Create healthy ways to celebrate their own cultural identity (Individual Development)

SMC Leadership Institute (SMCLI) Timeline 2024-2025

November 1st, 2023: Universal Application Opens
March 4th, 2024: Application Closes
April 1st-10th: Decision Emails Sent
April 19th, 2pm-5pm: SMCLI Kickoff

June-July: Request for Information and Material Review
August 9th- August 11th: SMC Leadership Institute Summer Conference (See Full Schedule Here)

August 12th-15th: Kupita/Transiciones 2024

September 11th and 12th: Continued Education Session 1

November 6th and 7th: Continued Education Session 2

February 8th and 9th: Continued Education Session 3

April 4th and 5th: Continued Education Session 4

Roles within SMC Leadership Institute

Within the institute, students have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, values, and identity while also having the chance to serve in multiple capacities: 

• K/T Mentor
• K/T Navigator
• MEN and Sister Circle E-Board

For students who are not yet interested in holding a leadership position, but want to be a part of the institute, we are now offering the SMCLI Universal Application to all students who are interested.

WHO CAN APPLY?

• Short answer, ANY CURRENT KSU STUDENT
• Current KT student leaders (returning mentors and navigators who are interested still need to complete an application)
• Students who participated in KT are welcome to apply but this is not a requirement to be a student leader
• Students who did NOT participate in K/T (student leaders do not have to be participants in KT to apply)
• Current PSA students or those who are not in PSA because PSA is not a requirement
• Other student leaders: Resident Aides, Student Success Leaders, USG Board members, etc. (we work with all training schedules for other leadership roles to avoid conflicts)

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?

• Moore Center Swag 😉
• Build a Community with other student leaders and the Moore Center Staff
• Year-long leadership program for sophomore, junior, and senior ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï State students that includes:​
  • Access to national and local conferences​
  • 4 Continued Education Sessions​
  • Opportunity to take on a leadership roles​
  • Opportunity to be mentored by a ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï State staff or faculty​
  • Community Service

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

Mentors

• 2.5 cumulative GPA  
• Start fall 2025 as a sophomore who has taken PLA, OR a junior or senior

Navigators

• 2.0 cumulative GPA  
• Start fall 2025 as a sophomore, junior, senior

MEN and Sister Circle E-Board

• 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Are a member of MEN or Sister Circle

For any questions, please contact SMC@kent.edu