HOW WE CONNECT TO THE BROADER CORPS
Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL) directly supports the Corps mission statement and enhances students’ capacities to be value-adding leaders in both the public and private sectors of the workplace. HCEL also provides career readiness support to cadets including internship and job assistance. Although initially designed for cadets not pursuing a military commission, HCEL programs are available to all cadets and other Texas A&M University students.
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HOLLINGSWORTH CENTER FOR ETHICAL LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE
Successful completion of the leadership development program of study and practice results in earning the Hollingsworth Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership.The certificate is an interdisciplinary credential that offers undergraduate students (majoring in any curriculum) the opportunity to successfully prepare for leadership responsibilities in many career fields. It is designed to provide students with a theoretical understanding of leadership studies while requiring application through experiential learning and personal development.
STUDENT/FORMER STUDENT TESTIMONIES
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“I have been shadowing the executive leadership team of the Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital and the majority of the wisdom they have been imparting on me are lessons we learned in (SOMS) class. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, focusing on processes, knowing what values you believe in as a leader, and having a leadership philosophy you can clearly communicate are just a few of the lessons I have learned from these executives and from completing my ILDP. I just wanted to let you know you have done an excellent job molding this program into something which will put us leaps and bounds ahead of our peers outside of the program, and I wanted to thank you for that!”
Recent graduate, Class of 2019
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“I can’t describe how much of an impact [this program] has had on me. It got me my first job and most importantly, made me a better person!”
Recent graduate, Class of 2019
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“I wanted to let you know I found my first job as a research administrator here at Texas A&M and could not be happier. Having the leadership certificate on my resume and being able to talk about it in my interview was a tremendous advantage.”
Recent graduate, Class of 2018
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“I have been shadowing the executive leadership team of the Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital and the majority of the wisdom they have been imparting on me are lessons we learned in (SOMS) class. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, focusing on processes, knowing what values you believe in as a leader, and having a leadership philosophy you can clearly communicate are just a few of the lessons I have learned from these executives and from completing my ILDP. I just wanted to let you know you have done an excellent job molding this program into something which will put us leaps and bounds ahead of our peers outside of the program, and I wanted to thank you for that!”
Recent graduate, Class of 2019
-
“I can’t describe how much of an impact [this program] has had on me. It got me my first job and most importantly, made me a better person!”
Recent graduate, Class of 2019
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“I wanted to let you know I found my first job as a research administrator here at Texas A&M and could not be happier. Having the leadership certificate on my resume and being able to talk about it in my interview was a tremendous advantage.”
Recent graduate, Class of 2018
THE CORPS 12 COMPETENCIES
Career readiness competencies are equally important and applicable in military, public, and private work sectors. In partnership with the Texas A&M Career Center, the following competencies are expected to be developed throughout a cadet’s Corps experience:
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PROFESSIONALISM
- Personal accountability & effective work habits
- Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations
- Act with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization
- Learns from his/her mistakes
ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
- Motivate and inspire others by building mutual trust
- Plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate projects
- Leverage strengths of self and others to achieve common goals
- Use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others
- Organize, prioritize, and delegate work
COMMUNICATION
- Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization
- Can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively
- Employ and active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills
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CRITICAL THINKING
- Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues
- Make decisions and overcome problems
- Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of sources and individuals to fully understand a problem
- Demonstrate originality and inventiveness
CAREER & SELF DEVELOPMENT
- Identify & articulate skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position
- Identify areas necessary for professional growth
- Navigate and explore job options
- Understand how to advocate for opportunities in the workplace
TEAMWORK
- Optimize mission accomplishment within a team structure
- Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting
- Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse viewpoints
- Negotiate and manage conflict
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TECHNOLOGY
- Leverage existing digital technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals
- Demonstrate effective adaptability to new and emerging technologies
- Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies
RESPECT & INCLUSION
- Demonstrate openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity
- Respect and learn from diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and religions
- Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives
- Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual, organizational, and societal progress
ADAPTABILITY
- Recognize and adjust to unforeseen circumstances
- Maintain flexibility in complex situations
- Modify plans to accomplish predetermined goals
- Overcome obstacles
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RESILIENCY
- Recover from setbacks or failure
- Mentally and emotionally cope with crisis
- Protect oneself from the potential negative effects of stressors
- Grit and determination to elevate above circumstances
PHYSICAL & MENTAL
WELLNESS- Make choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life
- Self-care, stress reduction and the development of inner strength
- Maintain optimal body structures and functions through healthy food intake, physical activity and exercise, sleep health, and proper hydration
FINANCIAL LITERACY
- Understand and properly apply financial management skills
- Make informed and effective decisions with financial resources
- Create and maintain personal and organizational budgets
- Protect economic value with appropriate financial risk management
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PROFESSIONALISM
& WORK ETHIC- Personal accountability & effective work habits
- Time workload
- Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind
- Learns from his/her mistakes
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ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
- Integrity and ethical behavior
- Guide, motivate, and inspire others
- Leverage strengths of self and others to achieve common goals
- Use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others
- Organize, prioritize, and delegate work
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ORAL & WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION SKILLS- Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization
- Can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively
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CRITICAL THINKING &
PROBLEM SOLVING- Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues
- Make decisions and overcome problems
- Obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in decision-making processes
- Demonstrate originality and inventiveness
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CAREER
MANAGEMENT- Identify & articulate skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position
- Identify areas necessary for professional growth
- Navigate and explore job options
- Understand how to advocate for opportunities in the workplace
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TEAMWORK &
COLLABORATION- Work within a team structure to maximize mission accomplishment
- Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse viewpoints
- Negotiate and manage conflict
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DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY- Leverage existing digital technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals
- Demonstrate effective adaptability to new and emerging technologies
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GLOBAL/INTERCULTURAL
FLUENCY- Demonstrate openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity
- Ability to interact respectfully with all people
- Respect and learn from diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and religions
- Understand individuals’ differences
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ADAPTABILITY
- Recognize and adjust to unforeseen circumstances
- Maintain flexibility in complex situations
- Modify plans to accomplish predetermined goals
- Overcome obstacles
-
RESILIENCY
- Recover from setbacks or failure
- Mentally and emotionally cope with crisis
- Protect oneself from the potential negative effects of stressors
- Grit and determination to elevate above circumstances
-
PHYSICAL & MENTAL
WELLNESS- Make choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life
- Self-care, stress reduction and the development of inner strength
- Maintain optimal body structures and functions through healthy food intake, physical activity and exercise, sleep health, and proper hydration
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FINANCIAL LITERACY
- Understand and properly apply financial management skills
- Make informed and effective decisions with financial resources
- Create and maintain personal and organizational budgets
- Protect economic value with appropriate financial risk management
REQUIRED ELEMENTS TO EARN CERTIFICATE
To be eligible for the Leadership certificate, a student must (a) successfully complete required academic courses, (b) complete and record applied experiential learning through participation in various Texas A&M and community activities, and (c) complete personal development requirements.
- Academic Coursework:
Candidates must successfully complete SOMS 380, 381, 481, and 482 coursework. Substitutions for any of these courses (internships, etc) may be approved by the HCEL Director. - Applied Experiences:
Candidates earning experiential points do so through effective participation in the Corps of Cadets and in the broader community. Ideally, these activities should indicate a progression of leadership experiences and challenges. - Personal Development:
Candidates must successfully complete a minimum of two semesters of an Individual Leadership Development Plan (ILDP) and complete the capstone requirement in SOMS 482. Certificate candidates must also complete an exit interview with an approved leadership coach/mentor.
- Qualifications:
- Be a current, undergraduate student at Texas A&M University in good standing.
- Be a current or former cadet in good standing with the Corps of Cadets (or non-Corps Texas A&M student with HCEL
Director’s approval) - Have a cumulative grade point ratio of 2.5.
- Completed a minimum of 60 hours, with 30 hours at Texas A&M University.
THE COURSES WE OFFER & BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF CONTENT
Fundamentals of Intentional Leadership
Credits 0-1. 0-1 Lecture Hours.
Exposure to the fundamentals of intentional leadership, deliberate practice, planning and leadership assessment; development of initial personal leadership development plans; alignment of personal and organizational values, vision, mission, purpose and goals toward desired outcomes.
Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in SOMS 280 or approval of department head or director.
Workshop in Leadership Education
Credits 0-1. 0-1 Lecture Hours.
The study of leadership theory, intra group relationships, assessment tools for skills development, and techniques for achieving group goals.
Prerequisite: Junior classification or approval of instructor.
Workshop in Leadership Education II
Credits 0-1. 0-1 Lecture Hours.
Continuation of SOMS 380. Fundamentals of small group dynamics; interpersonal communication; application of selected leadership theories; interpretation of individual assessments to include personality traits, values, and signature strengths.
Prerequisites: SOMS 380 junior or senior classification.
Seminar in Executive Leadership
Credits 0-1. 0-1 Other Hours.
The study of contemporary leadership issues, organizational effectiveness, problem solving, and decision making.
Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of instructor.
Seminar in Executive Leadership II
Credits 0-1. 0-1 Other Hours.
Continuation of SOMS 481. Discussion of ethical dilemmas in leadership roles; ethical decision-making; personal accountability in organizational settings.
Prerequisite: SOMS 481 or approval of instructor.
Directed Studies
Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
Individual supervision of special readings or assigned projects to promote independent study; program enrichment for capable students; written and oral reports required.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of leadership theory and practice. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of instructor.
CONFERENCE HOSTED BY HCEL
HCEL hosts a developmental conference every year
A. Intentional Leadership Conference (ILC).
Held in the spring of each year, this conference is open to all cadets and approved students from the broader TAMU community. The ILC fosters the development of leadership and career readiness skills that will help students from various backgrounds succeed as global leaders in the future.
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
Looking to expand your leadership knowledge?
Here is a list of books that are currently used in our leadership instruction:
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The Mentor: A Career-Readiness Business Parable
– by J.N. Whiddon – -
Moral Courage
– by Rushworth M. Kidder – -
How Good People Make Tough Choices Rev Ed: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living
– by Rushworth M. Kidder – -
Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning
– by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – -
Triple Crown Leadership: Building Excellent, Ethical, and Enduring Organizations
– by Bob Vanourek and Gregg Vanourek – -
Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators
– by Patrick M. Lencioni – -
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
– by Patrick Lencioni, Charles Stransky – -
The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back
– by Flip Flippen – -
The Discover Your True North Fieldbook: A Personal Guide to Finding Your Authentic Leadership
– by Nick Craig, Bill George, Scott Snook – -
Discover Your True North: Becoming an Authentic Leader
– by Bill George –
-
The Mentor: A Career-Readiness Business Parable
– by J.N. Whiddon – -
Moral Courage
– by Rushworth M. Kidder – -
How Good People Make Tough Choices Rev Ed: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living
– by Rushworth M. Kidder – -
Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning
– by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – -
Triple Crown Leadership: Building Excellent, Ethical, and Enduring Organizations
– by Bob Vanourek and Gregg Vanourek – -
Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators
– by Patrick M. Lencioni – -
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
– by Patrick Lencioni, Charles Stransky – -
The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back
– by Flip Flippen – -
The Discover Your True North Fieldbook: A Personal Guide to Finding Your Authentic Leadership
– by Nick Craig, Bill George, Scott Snook – -
Discover Your True North: Becoming an Authentic Leader
– by Bill George –
STAFF INFO
DR. DAVID KELLER, ‘07
Director
dkeller@corps.tamu.edu
COL (RET) KENNETH ALLISON, ‘85
Associate Director,
Career Readiness
kallison@corps.tamu.edu
DR. TONY BROWN, ‘73
Associate Director,
Leadership Development
tbrown@corps.tamu.edu