Leadership & Involvement Center (LIC)

A page within University Centers

About Leadership & Involvement

We are UWL
ENGAGED | ACTIVE | DRIVEN | WELCOMING

Vision & Mission

We envision a campus where students lead purpose driven lives by engaging in activities that promote lifelong, active citizenship, personal well-being, and professional growth.

We are dedicated to engaging students in leadership, involvement, and service opportunities as well as providing student organization support.

Leadership Programs

CliftonStrengths for Students helps students discover their natural talents: then teaches them how to develop their talents into strengths.

If your Student Organization, department, or team are interested in hosting a StrengthsQuest session, please contact the Leadership & Involvement Center at lic@uwlax.edu

This one hour session is made up of two parts: A 30 minute assessment and a presentation to help you understand your themes.

Your top 5 themes can help you answer that popular interview question: "What are your top 3 strengths?"  This assessment is a great opportunity for students to learn about themselves as they prepare for interviews and are working on a resume.  

Any questions, please stop by the COVE or email the LIC@uwlax.edu.  

Eagle LEAD

Eagle LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, and Development) is a presentation and speaker series that came to campus in Spring 2021! Every three weeks throughout the semester a new college at UWL was featured (College of Business Administration, School of Education, College of Science and Health, and College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities). Throughout these three week features, there was one presentation every week. Week one focused on introducing the college and providing tips for students. Week two featured a leadership speaker on a variety of different topics including Being an Inclusive Leader, Leading in a New Position, and more! Finally, the third week featured a member of the La Crosse community to talk about how they got to where they are as well as answering any questions students may have. Below, you can find links to watch the recordings from the presentations!

Spring 2021 Schedule of Speakers

To view the complete playlist of videos, visit the COVE's YouTube Page

Date

Presentation Title

Calendar Event

February 9th Introduction to College of Business Administration https://youtu.be/2bp2HcG9y_4 
February 16th Tools for Successful Leaders https://youtu.be/IoZjX8w-Hks 
February 23rd Community Engagement with Misty Lown Video not recorded
March 2nd Introduction to School of Education https://youtu.be/DLxMR6v_FZQ 
March 9th Being an Inclusive Leader https://youtu.be/cmNYsBAiE_s 
March 16th Community Engagement with Laura Hubert and Ben Burns https://youtu.be/9OyON5HylC0 
March 23rd Introduction to College of Science and Health https://youtu.be/elSpCq1nbhU 
March 30th Finding Balance as a Leader https://youtu.be/jgmhGRVrsaI 
April 6th Community Engagement with Teri Wildt https://youtu.be/dmPbHnVr-fc 
April 13th Introduction to College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities https://youtu.be/lAOdKlcFgYU 
April 20th Leading at the Bottom (How to be a Leader in a New Role/Position) https://youtu.be/F_eMfihZiaM 
April 27th Community Engagement with Representative Jill Billings https://youtu.be/XpqO_2D3wio 

Are you looking to learn more about your leadership?  New leader for a student organization?  Below you will find some assessments that you can take to learn more about your leadership style.  

DISC Assessment- This free DISC personality test lets you determine your DISC type and personality profile quickly. Find out how the DISC factors, Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance predict your behavior towards others and the everyday things you do.

Big Five Personality Test - Take this free Personality Test and find out more about who you are and your strengths. This is valuable information for choosing a career. This personality quiz measures the Big Five personality traits that were developed over three or four decades by several independent scientific researchers.

Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment: 16 Personalities - Have you ever head someone describe themselves as an INTJ or an ESTP and wondered what those cryptic-sounding letters could mean? The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator is a self-report inventory designed to identify a person's personality type, strengths, and preferences. 

Enneagram Personality Test - A system of personality which describes people in terms of nine types, each with their own motivations, fears, and internal dynamics. The Enneagram is an emotionally focused system for understanding people - honing in on one's core emotional motivations and fears. Each of the nine personalities has its own driving force, which is centered around a particular emotion.

True Color Test - A personality test is completed to yield a description of an individual's distinct personality traits. In most instances, your personality will influence relationships with your family, friends, and classmates and contribute to your health and well-being. 

Involvement

Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Student Union Lawn 11am-3pm

The Involvement Fair is a student organization fair that is held every September. This is a great opportunity for UWL students to learn about the student organizations that are available on campus. This is also a great opportunity for student organizations to advertise themselves, recruit new student members, and share information about upcoming events. Every year, we have a turnout of over 100 student organizations and 1,000 students who come to learn more about being active and getting involved at UWL.

Learn more on MyOrgs!

Fall 2023 Blood Drive Dates

September 12-13 

December 5-6

Spring 2024 Blood Drive Dates

February 14-15

The Leadership & Involvement Center, along with a co-sponsoring student organization, hosts a two-day blood drive with the American Red Cross. Typically, two blood drives are held each fall semester, and one is held each spring semester. To view dates and to sign-up for a time in advance, please visit the https://www.redcrossblood.org/

If your student organization is interested in co-sponsoring a blood drive, please email us at LIC@uwlax.edu

 

With over 200 student organizations, it is easy to get involved! Visit the MyOrgs website and find information on all of the active student organizations, including meeting times, contact information, and upcoming events. 

MyOrgs Logo

See what events are happening with student organizations by downloading the Corq app from the Apple Store or the Google Play Store

Corq App Logo

The date for the Spring Involvement Fair will be posted near the end of the Fall 2023 Semester.

Student Organization leaders, please check your emails for information about registration. 

Spring Involvement Fair is a student organization fair that is held every February. This is a great opportunity for UWL students to learn about the student organizations that are available on campus. This is also a great opportunity for student organizations to advertise themselves, recruit new student members, and share information about upcoming events. Every year, we have a turnout of over 60 student organizations and 1,000 students who come to learn more about being active and getting involved at UWL.

Volunteer & Service Opportunities

UGC

Ugetconnected is a free, online resource for local agencies to advertise volunteer opportunities. The site is brought to you by Great Rivers United Way, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College. We are working together to post volunteer opportunities in one central, online location. Community agencies create a profile on Ugetconnected to recruit volunteers, advertise events, and share information about their agency. As we market this site to the community, we hope it becomes THE online resource in our seven-county community to find volunteer and service opportunities!

We invite you to visit www.uwlax.edu/ugetconnected and use your UW-L student or employee log-in information to create your volunteer profile, respond to volunteer needs, and track your service hours!

Need help getting started? Please reference our helpful New Volunteer Guide.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023
10:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Union Lawn

Sample the City & Ugetconnected Volunteer Fair is an event in which Campus Activities Board and The Leadership & Involvement (LIC) team work together to bring La Crosse area businesses and volunteer opportunities to campus for students to get a glimpse of all there is to offer in the community, without stepping foot off campus! This is a great chance for students to try different food samples, learn about local businesses, get a sense of volunteer opportunities, and win prizes. 

If you are an agency looking to register for the event, please contact Amanda Krafft (akrafft@uwlax.edu).

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Check back soon for more details about location and time of event. 

Make a Difference Day is a one-day national event held every October that celebrates service in local communities. The Leadership & Involvement Center (LIC), along with representatives from Viterbo University and Western Technical College, coordinates service opportunities in the La Crosse area and encourages students to work together to accomplish service projects. Following the service project, students are invited to gather together to enjoy pizza and snacks at Viterbo University.

The service projects for Make a Difference Day are located on Ugetconnected. If you are interested in participating in this event as an individual or as a group, please visit Ugetconnected. After logging in with your UWL username and password, click on the “Make a Difference Day” tab. If you have questions or would like more information, please email us at LIC@uwlax.edu

 

Service Saturday is a monthly service event hosted by the Leadership and Involvement Center. Opportunities can be found on UGetConnected!

October 22 - Service Saturday at the Coulee Region Humane Society

  • We are hosting our first Service Saturday of the year! Come volunteer with us at the Coulee Region Humane Society from 1:00pm-3:00pm on Saturday, October 22nd! This is a great way to get in service hours, and have a great time doing it! Volunteers will be doing anything from playing with animals to cleaning cages. Please wear close-toed shoes

November 12 - UWL Red Kettle Take-Over

  • Volunteer as a group or as an individual, all are welcome! Shifts are in two-hour blocks from 10 AM to 8 PM. Locations are Festival on Copeland and Blain’s Farm and Fleet.

If you have questions about Service Saturdays, email LIC@uwlax.edu or contact Amanda Krafft at akrafft@uwlax.edu 

 

The purpose of the Community Partnership Portal is to foster learning and research collaborations in and out of the classroom while building stronger relationships between UWL and the community. 

Visit UWL volunteer website to find related websites geared toward volunteering and service on campus and in the community.

Volunteer Resources by Category

The Chancellor’s Volunteer Service Award is an award that is available for all UWL students to receive for the community service they complete during their time at UWL. Students are eligible for four levels of awards annually as well as a cumulative achievement award which are outlined below:

  • Level 1: Bronze: 25-50 hours per academic year
  • Level 2: Silver: 51-75 hours per academic year
  • Level 3: Gold: 76-100 hours per academic year
  • Level 4: Platinum: 101+ hours per academic year
  • Eagle Achievement Award: Over 400 cumulative hours during their time at UWL

Hours must be completed during the academic year to count for one of the annual recognitions. However, hours completed during the summer can count towards the Eagle Achievement Award. 

Students will track their hours in UGetConnected and be recognized by Chancellor Gow in a ceremony in the Spring. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Leadership and Involvement Center by emailing them at LIC@uwlax.edu or calling 608-785-6600.

Chancellor’s Service Award

We are excited to announce the second year of The Chancellor’s Service Award Program! This signature program hosted by our Leadership and Involvement Center is your opportunity to connect with local community partners, serve needs in the communities you are part of, and be recognized for the good work you do! Last year, 79 students participated, completing over 3,300 hours of volunteer work. Two students even received the Eagle Achievement Award (400+ hours during their time at UWL)!   

The Chancellor’s Volunteer Service Award is celebrated on an annual basis. Participants are recognized towards the end of the Spring semester in a special ceremony which highlights individual and communal contributions. The service awards are open to all registered students, whether attending classes online, in-person, or both! 

Why should I get involved? 

  • The Chancellor’s Volunteer Service Award is an opportunity for you to foster a sense of engagement on campus and in the surrounding community.  
  • Community service helps students find a sense of belonging. 
  • You will learn about the community you call “home” during your college years. 
  • Community engagement helps students take ownership of needs and services in the La Crosse community and instills a sense of pride in being an Eagle.  
  • Equally important, participation in this program will help prepare you for living in communities across the state, nation, and world when you enter the next phase of your journey! 

 How do I get involved? 

  • Register for the Chancellor’s Volunteer Service Award using the form in MyOrgs.  
  • In the form, select the level of engagement you plan to achieve. 
  • After submitting your form, someone will reach out with instructions for tracking hours, and will share more ideas on how to find volunteer opportunities.  
  • Once your submission is approved, you can begin tracking hours! All volunteer hours need to be recorded in UGetConnected to be counted toward the award. Hours should be recorded as individual hours if the opportunity was not found using UGetConnected.      

Is there a minimum number of service hours required for this award? 

  • Students will be eligible for awards based on the number of hours given to service projects, beginning with the Bronze level, which is 25-50 hours. For complete information on the program, visit the Leadership and Involvement Center’s webpage.  

 Do I have to complete my service hours only in La Crosse? 

  • Students may complete volunteer hours in their hometowns as well! In La Crosse, volunteer opportunities can be found on UGetConnected, or by reaching out to agencies interested in student volunteers.  

We encourage you to join this exciting initiative that celebrates our connection to the community and celebrates the good work our students are doing every day. We look forward to seeing you at our Recognition Ceremony in the Spring! 

The National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) at UW-La Crosse

The NSLS is the largest leadership honor society in the United States. Our NSLS Chapter at UW-La Crosse was started in 2021. Our local chapter is part of the national organization with 700+ chapters and over 1.4 millions members. 

Students are selected based on exemplary academic achievement and leadership potential. As of 2023, we have over 800 members who have access to: 

  • More than $400,000 in scholarships
  • An exclusive NSLS job board
  • A personalized letter of recommendation

The NSLS leadership program teaches the interpersonal skills that employers seek to give you an edge in the job market. Your experience with NSLS can be life-changing. 

If you become a member, some of the other benefits are: 

  • Learn from exceptional leaders during exclusive Speaker Broadcasts
  • Meet new friends and make lifelong connections (on-campus and virtually)
  • Overcome challenges with success coaches shortcutting your way to success
  • Access to private networking events

Visit the NSLS website to learn more about and accept your nomination. 

Any questions please email Amanda Krafft at akrafft@uwlax.edu

Chapter Members, check your NSLS dashboard calendar for events.

Volunteer Opportunities

Find opportunities at uwlax.edu/ugetconnected

Volunteer with Operation River Watch here