The Expansion of G.O.L.D. (Gusties in Ongoing Leadership Development) at Gustavus offers numerous “hidden treasure” programs and involvement groups that have been growing over the years, which provide ways for students to learn various skills and partake in projects in order to strengthen qualities.

This eight-week curriculum in which students attend classes to become leadership certified focuses on leadership skills that can translate into real-world situations. The course takes place in one semester, but if participants are short on time, they can do the program in a year. Each participant must attend at least seven out of eight sessions to become leadership certified.

A student can become certified in three different areas, which consist of Self, Servant, and Exemplary Leadership Tracks. Being certified means the participant has completed the curriculum and has hopefully learned more about being a successful leader. The purpose of the program is to further a student’s leadership skills and students of all ages are able to join without any application process.

Assistant Director for Community-Based Service and Learning and one of the instructors of the Servant Track Program at G.O.L.D., David Newell, explains that the program relates to many Gusties.

“G.O.L.D. is the cornerstone leadership program because it is open to anybody and has something to offer everyone,” said Newell.

Typically, the program directs students to start with the Self-Leadership Track, which entails taking tests, surveys, and inventories in order for participants to learn more about themselves as a leader. Students also form groups of similar test results in order to meet people like themselves and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

The Servant Leadership Track looks at the bigger picture and how using one’s leadership skills can benefit the global community. This program focuses on the question of how a student can use their leadership skills in order to give back to the community.

Finally, the Exemplary Leadership Track is where the rubber meets the road. Students are able to understand their leadership skillsets and put that knowledge into action. The purpose of this track is for students to be able to affectively lead a group of people in order to achieve a common goal.

Director of Campus Activities and also a leader for the Exemplary Track Andrea Junso has helped tailor the program in order to make it more effective.

“There is a significant sense that a student literally can take this away today and implement it… you can employ these skills that you are learning today in everyday experiences,” Junso said.

The G.O.L.D. program, which was started in 2011, already looks very different from its roots. The program is now a function of both the Center for Servant Leadership and Campus Activities Office. The curriculum has also been redesigned to fit the needs of employers and make students more marketable.

This year, G.O.L.D. also added a J-term program in which students could attend a one-day, five-hour intensive workshop in order to receive the Exemplary Leadership Track certificate. They found it to be a huge success and are going to continue to expand on this developing program.

“I think we are finding that we are gaining traction… so in terms of long run of I think for us its just more students being able to push through and get involved in the program,”  Newell said.

Program directors hope that the program, which typically holds 60-70 students, will one day show numbers in the hundreds.

First- year Allison Birnschien partook in fall semester’s G.O.L.D. program.

“I want to learn about myself so that I can work as a leader with personal background of who I am, so that I can work with other people,” Birnschien said.

As G.O.L.D. molds the program to meet the need employers are looking for, students feel better prepared for the future in this open and expanding program. If students are interested in joining the G.O.L.D. program, spring semester sessions will continue on Friday, Feb. 21 and go from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. in Beck Hall. Self-Track meets in Beck 111, Servant in Beck 119, and Exemplary in Beck 117.

Any student is welcome to attend each session. If students have questions, they can contact the leaders of the G.O.L.D. program at gold@gustavus.edu.