Superior Edge - Center for Student Enrichment

To get started with Superior Edge, you will attend a 30-minute orientation session where criteria for the program is explained, and you will receive instruction on logging your hours.

Students will become engaged, involved citizens.  They will:

• Develop an empathy and concern for others
• Gain practical experience in community settings
• Increase their awareness of community challenges, opportunities, and processes

To satisfactorily achieve the outcome, students will complete:

• 100 hours that may include a combination of service learning, community service, and civic engagement.  A minimum of 10 hours must be civic engagement activities, and students will need to participate in 3 separate volunteer activities.
• Log your hours on the Superior Edge logging system
• Write a reflection paper/schedule an interview with one of our staff members and complete a short survey

Examples of what would count towards completion of the Citizenship Edge:

• service learning:  course-related experiences
• community service:  volunteer opportunities
• civic engagement:  attending or working on a community/political campaign; attending governmental, ASNMU, non-profit board (i.e., NMU Board of Trustees, etc.) meetings; attending public hearings; school board/PTA meetings; jury duty; working at an election, etc. 

Possible Citizenship Edge Activities:

• Personal volunteer projects such as Adopt-A-Family, Adopt-A-Highway, Big Brothers Big Sisters, food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, hospice, Humane Society, Make A Difference Day, Red Cross, Special Olympics, U.P. 200 Sled Dog Race, or being a mentor
• Hold a position in a student organization to promote volunteer work (i.e., volunteer coordinator for residence hall)
• Organize volunteer programs/opportunities
• Work in an academic service learning course
• Travel abroad to volunteer

Students will develop a world view and better understand and appreciate diversity.  They will:

• Develop an appreciation for domestic diversity
• Develop an appreciation for international diversity
• Increase knowledge of different cultures in the United States and around the world
• Better understand global issues

To satisfactorily achieve the outcome, students will complete:

• 100 hours that will include a combination of domestic and international diversity (a minimum of at least 20 hours in each area)
• Log your hours on the Superior Edge logging system
• Write a reflection paper/schedule an interview with one of our staff members  and complete a short survey

Examples of what would count towards completion of the Diversity Edge:

• domestic diversity:  attend presentations, workshops, or programs; participate in events such as Holocaust Awareness Week, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, National Coming Out Day, or the Pow Wow; experiences at a soup kitchen; working at Bay Cliff Health Camp; tutoring at Lake Superior Village; working with the elderly; student exchange programs; membership in a diversity student organization (something you have never done before)
• international diversity:  study/travel abroad or attend presentations, workshops, programs, or events

Possible Diversity Edge Activities:

Participate in programs having to do with diversity

• Attend Skill Builder! workshops or other workshops dealing with diversity
• Volunteer experience in diverse neighborhoods, cities, or countries
• Study or live abroad
• Take extra courses on diversity beyond the world cultures requirement
• Become a member of a student organization approved as a diversity promotion group (something out of your comfort zone):   All About Korea, All Nations Club, Black Student Union, Native American Student Association, OUTLook, Queers & Allies, etc.

Students will grow as competent, ethical, and effective leaders.  They will:

• Appreciate the ethical underpinnings of effective leadership
• Understand group dynamics and processes
• Develop an awareness of personal leadership strengths and weaknesses
• Attain the knowledge of different leadership styles and approaches

To satisfactorily achieve the outcome, students will complete:

• 100 hours that includes a combination of theory, ethics, and experience.  A minimum of 50 hours must be leadership experience.
• Log your hours on the Superior Edge logging system
• Write a reflection paper/schedule an interview with one of our staff members and complete a short survey

Examples of what would count towards completion of the Leadership Edge:

• theory:  courses, workshops, or conferences with leadership theory.  Theory must be learned in a formal setting.
• ethics:  complete courses or course content, participate in presentations or workshops on ethics.  Ethics must be learned in a formal setting.             
• experience:  leadership role in a student or community organization, resident adviser (RA), Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP), ROTC, employment with leadership responsibilities

Possible Leadership Edge Activities:

• Position on a committee or in a student organization
• Leadership Skill Builder! workshops
• Leadership theory class
• Residence hall leadership positions
• Organize talk/guest speaker (house/hall/Platform Personalities)
• Be a resident adviser or community adviser
• Hold a supervisory position at your place of employment

Students will demonstrate the ability to relate theory to practice.  They will:

• Develop an appreciation for the many factors (resources, personalities, competing priorities, etc.) involved in “real world” situations related to either your major or minor
• Develop the confidence needed to succeed in your future career and community opportunities
• Better integrate theory from a student’s major or minor into practice outside of the classroom setting

To satisfactorily achieve the outcome, students will complete:

• 100 hours that may include a combination of service learning, research experiences, work experience, internships or professional activities
• Log your hours on the Superior Edge logging system
• Write a reflection paper/schedule an interview with one of our staff members and complete a short survey

Examples of what would count towards completion of the Real World Edge:

• service learning courses:  in the syllabi it should state how many hours a student will receive
• research experiences:  Freshman Fellows, apprenticeships, working with a faculty member, etc.
• related work experience:  an early childhood student working at a daycare, a graphic design student working in a design office, an accounting major working at a CPA firm, etc.
• internships/practica/apprenticeships/field work
• professional activities:  attending or presenting at a professional conference

Possible Real World Activities:

• Internship/employment related to your major or minor
• Academic student organization associated with your major or minor
• Volunteer for an organization associated with your major or minor
• Attend workshops/conferences associated with your major
• A chairperson on a board pertaining to your major or minor
• Work with professors, graduate assistants or teaching assistants on extra projects pertaining to your major or minor