Meredith Graduate
Students Participate in Leadership Training
at Marine Corps Base in Virginia by
Andrea Weaver, Web Editor
About
25-30 graduate students at Meredith College sampled leadership
training as conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps during an April
10-11 exercise at the Corps’ education and training command
at Quantico, Va.
The exercise included a lecture on the Marines’ leadership
philosophy, teamwork activities, and a workout on the combat
course. Dr. Sidney Adkins, dean of the School of Business,
arranged the exercise to offer students hands-on training
in leadership techniques.
“It’s a learning experience for the students,”
he said. “It really becomes a laboratory for them.”
 Adkins,
a retired Marine Corps colonel, said students analyze many
leadership theories as part of their coursework in the Master
of Business Administration (MBA) program. The Quantico Program
gave them the opportunity to test those theories. Plus, they
learned about the “commitment, loyalty, dedication, and
courage” that characterizes U.S. Marines, he said.
Adkins hopes the exercise, offered for the first time this
year, will become a distinctive feature at Meredith. Other
MBA programs in the Research Triangle don’t offer a comparable
experience, he said.
“It helps make the educational experience at Meredith
unique,” he said.
On the combat course, students scaled a 40-foot wall, crossed
a trench on a rope bridge, and tackled other obstacles.
During the teamwork segment, the students worked in small
groups to solve problems. After each assignment, they evaluated
their success, their reaction under stress, their effect on
the performance of others, and other elements of leadership.
“The emphasis is not on completing the task but more
on what happens as you try to do it,” Adkins said.
This article was first published in “Headlines,”
a Meredith web site section that highlights newsworthy campus
events and information. Visit “Headlines” on the
web site home page, http://www.meredith.edu/.
Meredith
Incident Response Plan Updated
With current events increasing interest in
emergency preparedness, Meredith College has placed a renewed
emphasis on campus safety.
In a recent email to faculty, staff and students, President
Hartford said, “the safety, security and well being of
all members of our community are always among our highest
priorities and we take this responsibility very seriously
at Meredith College. Given that we are now at war with Iraq
and have heightened national security and safety awareness,
we have taken additional steps to enhance our emergency preparedness
plans to ensure that we are prepared to successfully meet
any emergency challenges we may encounter.”
The incident management team and the College administration
have recently completed a thorough review and update of Meredith’s
incident response plan, which includes protective and recovery
measures for possible major incidents that have the potential
to endanger health or safety or to interfere with the operation
of the campus. The complete Meredith College Incident Management
and Response Plan is now available at www.meredith.edu/marketing/incident-response.htm.
The incident management team meets on a regular basis to review
and renew Meredith’s emergency plans and also to participate
in training and education on crisis management. Team members
include Ann Gleason, dean of students; Tom Sherry, director
of facilities services; Bill Wade, vice president for business
and finance; Frank Strickland, campus police chief; Charletta
Sims, director of commuter life and special services; Beth
Meier, director of the counseling center; Sam Carothers, campus
minister; Heidi LeCount, director of residence life; Mickey
Brandstater, chief information officer; Sherry Tompkins, assistant
to the president for marketing and communications; Kristi
Eaves-McLennan, assistant director of communications; and
Melyssa Allen, media relations coordinator.
[sidebar]
General guidelines that Meredith community members can take
to enhance safety include:
•
Become familiar with the exits in all campus buildings.
•
Report
any episodes of suspicious behavior to the Meredith campus
police, (919) 760-8888.
•
Review
the tips and procedures outlined in the student handbook and
the emergency information flip chart for resident students.
•
Make sure the College has accurate contact information for
you in the event of an emergency. Faculty and staff should
visit or call the human resources office to update contact
information.
•
In the event of an emergency, please check in with family
and friends, as well as the campus community, to apprise them
of your safety and whereabouts.
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit the
Federal Emergency Management Agency web site (www.fema.gov);
the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public
Safety web site (www.nccrimecontrol.org);
and North Carolina’s Safety and Security web site (www.ncgov.com/asp/subpages/safety_security.asp).
|
eredith’s
graduating classes from all years ending in a three or an
eight will enjoy a fun, event-filled weekend May 16-18, 2003
as the Office of Parent and Alumnae Relations puts on its
annual Alumnae Reunion Weekend on Meredith’s campus.
All
those alumnae attending the reunion are invited to stay in
the residence halls and to take part in the many special events
planned in their honor. Alumnae will have a chance to shop
in the Student Supply Store, tour the new Science and Mathematics
Building, attend individual class meetings and participate
in class activities, and view three different art exhibits
in the art galleries on campus.