Author: Susan Hammond

1. Developing student advocacy, political and leadership
skills through extra-curricular opportunities
Susan Hammond, Learning Community
Coordinator
Pamela Findlay BSN Student
Carmen Schalles BSN Student
Nickol Tschenscher BSN Student

2. Objectives for this session:
 Explore the benefits of student engagement through
extra-curricular opportunities.
 Describe the three student led initiatives at the Douglas
College BSN Program- stories from students.
 Outline the importance of institutional support in
fostering student engagement through extra-curricular
activities.
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3.  Most educators would agree that engaged students, both
inside and outside the classroom, have more to gain from
their educational experience.
 There is an abundance of literature that would support
this instinctive notion.
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4.  Research shows that students who participate fully in
their campus community demonstrate improved critical
thinking skills and exhibit cognitive, moral, and ethical
development.
 Likewise these engaged students are…..”more adept (at
managing) complexity, tolerating ambiguity and working
with people with different backgrounds or with different
views.” Kuh, 2009
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5. Douglas College BSN Program
Has 3 peer led extra-curricular groups that foster advocacy, political and
leadership skills through peer based activities.

6. Peer Mentorship Program
 “Our vision is to enrich the academic experience by
fostering support networks through community. We
aspire to encourage social interactions and
camaraderie to facilitate a community of support and
engagement. We hope to promote personal and
professional growth through the development of
student leaders.”
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7. CRNBC Student Rep Program
The vision for this group is to “build a solid
foundation for professional practice with
regards to CRNBC Standards of Practice.”
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8. ARNBC Student Network Lead Program
 The newest extracurricular program within the Douglas
College BSN Program
 During monthly meeting students are encouraged to
discuss relevant topics, and advocate for change by means
of political engagement.
 Students begin to develop leadership skills as they
discover the strength of their voice.
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9. Benefits to student participation……….
 Personal and professional development
 Develop leadership skills
 Become a resource for peers
 Build confidence
 Provided networking opportunities both inside and
outside of nursing
 Provided opportunity to work with peers as well as faculty
on a variety of relevant, educational activities.
 Further development of interpersonal skills
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10. Supporting a culture of student engagement at Douglas College
 An institutional strategic plan that puts students first
 Organizational structures that fosters student
engagement
 Faculty and staff positions that specifically support
student engagement activities
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11. Next Steps……….
 Exploring engagement possibilities with the pre-nursing
students (those in the academic foundations in nursing)
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12. Questions
 ????????
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13. References
 Kuh, G.D. (2009) Student Success in College: Creating
Conditions that Matter. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
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14. Thank you
douglascollege.ca