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Student Development Mission Statement
Our Philosophy
Lees-McRae College is a community of students in association with one another, the administration, and faculty. Students are encouraged to participate and lead in all areas of student life.
Spirituality
Lees-McRae College is a Presbyterian-related college and, as such, has as its purpose the presentation of courses in a Christian atmosphere and the invitation to be involved in the Christian community.
There are many exciting ways to be involved in religious life on campus. The Chaplain is available for conversation and pastoral counseling; Christian fellowship groups meet weekly; chapel services are held every week on campus; and many local service projects are offered each semester.
In addition to our regular religious programs, special events are planned throughout the academic year. These events include supper seminars, retreats, conferences, Christian theater, Christian music concerts, and spring break mission trips. One of the special events offered each semester is the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lectureship, during which special programs are presented under the leadership of an outstanding Christian Scholar.
Purpose
A purpose is an intention or a result that is aimed at, or to propose as an aim to oneself. Answering the following questions would assist college students in determining their purpose here at Lees-McRae and in the future.
Why am I here?
What will I do during college and after?
Who am I?
What should my major be?
Often we find our purpose through opportunities to try new things, taking risks, being challenged, learning more about ourselves, and being exposed to many kinds of people and experiences.
Student Development is doing many things to assist students in finding their unique purpose while at Lees-McRae College. We offer interest inventories, personality indicators, career counseling, job fairs, and a class on career and life planning. There is also special programming on topics of motivation, life after graduation, resume and interviewing, and choosing a major. Life at Lees-McRae also offers the opportunity for challenge in the classroom, new experiences through the volunteer opportunities, and a discovering of self through spiritual activities as well as social activities and residence life.
Interpersonal Relationships
Interpersonal Relationships can be defined as any of the many and varied relationships which exist within each individual, and between individuals and groups of people on campus, between the campus and the greater community, and globally. These relationships include but are not limited to the individual's relationship with him/herself, friendship, romantic, collegial, and community relationships. Student Development's goal is to help strengthen and enrich these relationships among all of the diverse individuals and groups, which make up the LMC Community and in our relationships to the world community in which our graduates will live.
Currently, Student Development is facilitating interpersonal relationships in numerous ways including via personal counseling, mentoring, residence life training and programs, supper seminars, international programming, intramurals, diversity dialogues and training, clubs, programming targeted to strengthen relationships and personal growth, and community education, and service.
Responsibility
Responsibility is stressed throughout the Lees-McRae College experience. Students experience a new level of independence in college, but along with this independence comes the requirement that students take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
Students will join a community at Lees-McRae College and they must follow the policies that have been established to ensure that this community is a safe and enjoyable learning environment. The Student Handbook outlines the policies for living in community at Lees-McRae College and the first responsibility of every student in to read and become familiar with the policies outlined in the handbook.
Personal responsibility and self-control are conducive to growth of character; each student is given as much freedom as is consistent with the well being of the group. Discipline is viewed as a learning experience for students and the Judicial Committee is made up of a combination of students, staff, and faculty. The College reserves the right to administratively withdraw any student who refuses to adjust to these standards or who adversely influences other students. Those who prove irresponsible in spirit, in cooperation, or in attitude toward authority may be dismissed according to established procedures in the Student Handbook.
Autonomy
The process of autonomy consists of three elements.
Emotional Independence: When people become emotionally independent, they accept responsibility for themselves and lessen the need for emotional approval from family and peers. People come to realize that they are ultimately responsible for themselves and that although the recognition of friends and family is important, it is less important than what the people themselves individually, believe is right.
Instrumental Independence: Being instrumentally independent means that a person has become responsible for himself or herself and that the person has control of his or her environment. This usually involved being financially independent-employed-and having one’s own residence.
Interdependence: The integration of emotional independence and instrumental independence forms the third element of interdependence, which is the realization of independence.
Student Development is doing many things to assist students in developing autonomy while they are at Lees-McRae. We currently offer personal and career counseling, First Year Experience classes, and Life and Career Planning (for sophomores, juniors, and seniors). There are also programming opportunities, in which students can help plan and present, on various topics that allow students to search for autonomy. Leadership opportunities are made available through Student Government, the Chaplain’s Office and Residence Life. We offer several different residence halls experiences to accommodate students’ desires to find the residence experience that best meets their needs (students may contact the office of Residence Life for information on different residential options).
Wellness
Wellness involves more than just being free of disease or injury. Wellness integrates both the body and the mind into a state of mental and physical health. This can be accomplished through proper diet, exercise, and stress management. Preventive measures such as immunizations, protection against communicable diseases, and avoiding substance abuse help sustain wellness. Proper use of medications and medical procedures may restore wellness. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle allows the body to achieve optimum performance, and leads to more enjoyable and satisfying experiences.
Lees McRae’s Student Development division already encourages a healthy environment for its students by providing nursing care if they are sick or injured, and sponsoring programs on eating disorders, substance abuse awareness, and sexual assault. We hold the Stress Fest health fair, sponsor the Red Cross blood drive twice a year, administer flu shots, advise students on birth control, and offer counseling and information on various physical and emotional conditions. The Broyhill Wellness Center is open to all students and is located in the Canon Student Center. We also participate in intramural athletics, and try to set forth a good example by our own conduct and involvement in campus activities.
Leadership
Students who lead by example, contribute to the campus community, initiate action, motivate themselves and/or others and demonstrate emotional intelligence are considered leaders at Lees-McRae College. Self-identification as a student leader, however, is all that is currently necessary to move students into roles of leadership in student organizations. By encouraging development of self-management skills and additionally offering students the opportunity to learn and practice consensus-building, teamwork, respect for others’ ideas and styles, tenacity and flexibility, we strive to broaden the leadership development of students.
Current programming includes training and in-service for Residence Life staff, Student Government Association procedures and programming, club charter requirements, the KIBO Emerging Leaders program and the Peer Advisor program in orientation.
Service
Lees-McRae College sees service as a necessary part of any student’s college experience. There is a service requirement for all freshmen as part of the First Year Experience class. Service opportunities are provided to our students and the campus community to build relationships beyond the campus; to immerse our students in the local county; to reach out locally, nationally, and globally in ways that provide basic needs, healing, and hope; to share our gifts; and to share in a collective purpose.
Lees-McRae College is proud to be a member of the Bonner
Leaders programs. This offers students the chance to make service to others an
integral part of their learning experience here at Lees-McRae College and to
receive academic vouchers from Americorps in recognition of their service to
others. More information on the Bonner Leaders program may be obtained from the
Student Development division.
