Leadership Training
The Disciples Leadership Program offers students leadership training, mentorship, and opportunities to serve.
All Disciples Fellows are equipped with leadership training. This includes monthly leadership meetings with program faculty, space and time for faithful reflection in the classroom and beyond, and on-the-ground opportunities for servant leadership on campus as well as local Disciples congregations. Fellows often pursue internships with local Disciples of Christ churches and gain ministry experience.
Additionally, all Disciples Fellows will complete a mentorship during their junior or senior year in the program. This mentorship is funded by the college as part of the student’s Disciples Leadership Program experience. Each DLP Fellow, in consultation with the Chaplain of the College and Director of the Disciples Leadership Program, secures placement in an internship, spiritual enrichment, or service-related experience in their chosen field. Students work hand-in-hand with a mentor on-site to further develop the reflective habits of faithful leadership. Completion of the mentorship experience is a foundational element of the Disciples Leadership Program and positions program graduates to succeed in the workforce and/or graduate school after graduation. Indeed, the mentorship experience is an excellent networking opportunity as students prepare for their professional careers.
Additional information, including common questions about the mentorship experience, can be found below.
What training is included in the Disciples Leadership Program?
All Disciples Fellows are enrolled in a DLP-specific course each semester. As part of this course, students participate in regular one-on-one meetings with program faculty. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss the student’s leadership, including skills, goals, leadership plans. Program faculty also work with students to identify opportunities for leadership on campus and in the community and local churches, to discuss ongoing efforts in their leadership positions, and to evaluate challenges that arise within these positions. All DLP Fellows also come together for monthly colloquia, which feature case studies on leadership, guest speakers, and planning for program events.
Are Disciples Fellows required to complete coursework in Philosophy and Religion?
Disciples Fellows are required to complete at least a minor in Philosophy and Religion.
What additional coursework in Philosophy and Religion does Eureka College offer?
Faculty affiliated with the Disciples Leadership Program teach all coursework in Philosophy and Religion at Eureka College. The college offers religion courses in biblical studies, comparative religion, and the history of Christian thought, as well as philosophy courses such as ethics, political philosophy, and artificial intelligence. The philosophy and religion major and minor, as well as our new certificate in applied ethics, can be easily added on to a student’s major and minor.
Where can I go to complete a mentorship?
We encourage our students to think big when planning and securing their mentorship experience. A majority of our students complete the mentorship outside of Illinois. Many do so in the United States. And some go abroad! Students are encouraged to seek mentorship experiences at companies, in programs, and in locations that will help them to develop as leaders and to professionalize as they prepare for graduation. Where this is depends on the student and their interests!
Where have recent students completed mentorships?
Students have recently completed mentorships or are currently planning mentorships in England, Spain, Ireland, and Central America.
What can count as a mentorship?
Each student’s mentorship experience is unique. Some students gain experience working with non-profit organizations. Some students connect with faith communities around the world to gain ministry experience. Other students have spent time living and learning in spiritual community.
How much funding is available for a mentorship?
Each DLP Fellow has access to $6,000 to cover expenses related to the mentorship experience.
What can mentorship funding be used for?
Mentorship funding can be used to pay for program fees, travel expenses, housing, food, and technology/software needed for the experience, among other possibilities. Each student crafts a budget in advance of the mentorship, which is approved by the Chaplain or the Disciples Leadership Program Director.
How long are mentorships?
We recommend that students pursue mentorships of between 4-12 weeks. The exact length will depend on the scope and type of experience.
When do students complete mentorships?
Most students complete their mentorships during the summer before their senior year. Others do so during the academic year, so long as they have completed necessary coursework. It is also possible for students to complete the mentorship experience during the winter break between the fall and spring semesters of their senior year.
Can students complete more than one mentorship?
Yes! Students are free to pursue more than one mentorship, so long as they budget appropriately to be able to do so.
Please direct any questions about the program to the Director of the Disciples Leadership Program, Dr. Joseph Cunningham. You may do so via email at dlp@eureka.edu or by phone at (309) 467-6331.