Leadership and service opportunities at Central College give students the opportunity to meet new people, connect to campus, recognize their leadership potential, and clarify personal, academic, and professional goals. Students participating in leadership and service programs at Central College engage in a journey toward personal growth, social responsibility, and building community.
The Red and White Leadership Series is a two-tiered program designed to challenge and support student leaders. The Red workshops are intended for beginning leaders—students who may be first-time student organization leaders or new Central students. The White workshops aim to further develop already experienced student leaders. The White workshops are a time for student leaders to reflect on what they have learned through their leadership experiences at Central and determine how to apply their skills and abilities beyond Central’s campus. Workshops for each series are held once a month throughout the academic year. Sponsored by Student Activities
The Central Volunteer Center (CVC) serves as a clearinghouse of information about community service and volunteer opportunities for students. The CVC is student-led and works to connect Central students with service projects sponsored by organizations in Pella and the surrounding communities that help students to develop a greater sense of belonging in the community and promote life-long community service. Student leaders working in the CVC develop a broad range of skill sets while working with community partners, coordinating student volunteers, and hosting service events on campus. New students are welcome and encouraged to get involved with the CVC either by volunteering with projects that interest them or helping to coordinate and market the many projects available. Sponsored by Student Activities and the Office of Community-Based Learning
First-year through senior students are eligible to serve on their hall council which is a group that makes decisions for individual residence areas and plans events for their fellow students in those areas. Many new students start out as hall council members before moving into other leadership positions on campus. Hall Council is a great way to get to know more people who live in your area while building skills that help you in college and beyond. Sponsored by Residence Life
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is a group of students who seek to promote unity within the campus community by providing a variety of experiences to stimulate acceptance and awareness through entertainment. CAB plans a variety of programs for Central College students, alumni, staff, and faculty through eight different programming areas:
Through these programming areas, students develop a variety of organizational leadership skills while planning events for the whole campus to enjoy! Sponsored by Student Activities
Student Senators are first-year through senior students elected by the student body to be the voice of students. Senators decide the programs and events on which the student activity fee that all students pay is spent. They also serve on faculty and campus wide committees that make decisions affecting all students. Many students who are active in student government in high school enjoy serving on student senate, although you don’t need to have any prior experience with government to be a senator. Sponsored by Student Life
SOS Orientation Leaders are sophomore through senior students at Central who work with small groups of incoming students to help them make a smooth transition to Central. They get to know new students individually, lead small group activities and help carry out large events for summer/winter orientation and August Welcome Week. This close-knit group has a blast helping new students find a home with Central! Sponsored by Student Activities
The brothers and sisters of the eight social fraternities and sororities that make up Greek Life at Central focus on service and leadership as part of their regular activities. Each fraternity and sorority adopts a philanthropic cause for which to raise funds and awareness amongst fellow students. In doing so, the groups also provide great leadership opportunities through which to build skills for college and life beyond. Any student is eligible to pledge a fraternity or sorority after successfully completely at least one semester at Central. Sponsored by Student Activities
Resident Advisors (RAs) are undergraduate members of the Residence Life staff. RAs have the most frequent and direct communication with resident students; therefore, they have an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the development and education of individuals. It is expected that RAs are sincerely interested in and supportive of the welfare of the students at Central College. RAs help students develop to their full potential as a person, a student, and a member of their floor, building, and college community by developing and implementing educational and social programs for students as well as creating and maintaining an environment that is conducive to self-discipline and study. Sponsored by Residence Life.
The mission of SUSTAIN is to help build campus-wide community by offering opportunities for people from different areas of the College, especially students, to come together to share ideas, raise awareness, educate ourselves, and coordinate with each other by working on projects and making recommendations for policies and practices to make Central College and the wider world more environmentally sustainable, socially and economically just. Some of SUSTAIN’s ongoing projects include all-campus service day, national teach-in on global warming, greening the athletic program, campus recycling projects, social justice and human rights projects, and many more. SUSTAIN is sponsored by many departments across campus.
