The document discusses three student-led extracurricular initiatives at the Douglas College BSN Program that develop advocacy, political, and leadership skills: the Peer Mentorship Program, CRNBC Student Rep Program, and ARNBC Student Network Lead Program. It outlines benefits of student participation like personal and professional development, and explains how the college supports student engagement through its strategic plan, organizational structures, and staff positions. The objectives are to explore benefits of extracurricular engagement, describe the three student initiatives, and discuss the importance of institutional support for such activities.

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
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