Oakland University has over 200 student organizations, and the Leadership Consultants program is here to work with every one of them.

The LC program is a new organization created to help student organizations learn important leadership skills and themes. The program was started this semester as a part of the leadership and volunteer center in the center for student activities.

“I think that it’s been brainstormed for years, but it never really took off,” said Meaghan Walters, graduate assistant for leadership development. “The leadership and volunteer center is relatively new on its own, so we’re trying to establish our center more and we feel that the LCs are the best way to do that to get our message out there, that we’re here and we want students to have different leadership and volunteer opportunities to make a difference.”

The group consists of two advisors and nine student consultants. The student leadership consultants are trained in different areas of leadership and then trained to facilitate their skills to different organizations on campus.

The nine consultants range from freshman to senior. This year among the nine LCs is a graduate student and an international student.

“We give them a pre-package deal … our LCs go out to student orgs, but they tailor it to fit the student org,” Walters said. “Before they did team building, they met with the executive board and asked them what they are lacking and the team building reflected that. We try to tailor it to the student organization and make it work for them.”

The consultants meet at meetings twice a week where they are taught a new leadership theme, and are then required to teach that skill to an organization on campus. The LCs were first trained in how to break down boundaries in new organizations.

The consultants are required to seek out organizations that they would like to work with and meet with their executive board. Then they must tailor a leadership plan with the skills they learned, crafted to the organization they are working with.

“I love being an LC, it is a lot of fun and a great way to give back to this amazing campus,” said consultant and junior, Kevin O’Bryan. “I believe that by helping to build the leaders of tomorrow, we will foster growth at OU.”

Consultants are recruited and selected after a long interview process. The LCs must attend leadership seminars and training sessions throughout the year, and are required to log 10 hours of work every two weeks. They are also required to attend Spring Training, an on-campus leadership seminar in April.

If the organization is successful, new consultants will be recruited in the fall, and current LCs will have the opportunity to re-apply.

“One of the biggest things we are looking for is someone with a positive spirit who can take inchoative,” Walters said.

Leadership consultants are paid a competitive hourly wage matching other student jobs on campus at around minimum wage.

“I encourage anyone who is involved in an organization of any and all kinds to use this valuable resource,” O’Bryan said. “Whether for a department on campus, a student organization, or anything else, we are here to help you become more effective at what you love. It’s free and a fun way to improve oneself and their organization.”