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First-Year Leadership Program
The First-Year Leadership Program (FYLP) creates unique opportunities for students living in residence to find their fit. With over 400 leadership positions available to first-year students, Laurier’s residence program continues to thrive because of the energy new leaders bring.
Explore the ways you can get involved and shape your residence experience.
First-Year Leadership Program Councils: Waterloo
Each residence community's House Council is comprised of first-year students from your residence community. With the support of the House Council Advisor and residence staff, House Council serves as a planning and management body for major social and academic-based events and activities for your entire residence. Being a part of House Council allows students to develop in our five departmental learning goals and develop programming that will bring together their entire residence community.
Past Events
- Fundraisers
- End of Year Banquet
- Career Development Workshops
- Chicopee Snow Tubing
- Transition to Second Year Events
Structure
The House Council of each building is made up of:
- A council president;
- A vice-president of training and development;
- A vice-president of marketing and communications;
- A vice-president of finance and administration;
- A community representative from each community;
- The house council advisor; and
- One representative from each Campus Council: Community Outreach, Diversity & Equity, Athletic & Wellness, Arts, Academic Initiatives, and Sustainability.
Positions
- One president per building
- One vice-president of training and development
- One vice-president of marketing and communications
- One vice-president of operations
- One community representative per floor
Time Commitment
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- One additional weekly meeting for council president/vice-presidents
- House Council events, as scheduled
Academic Initiatives Council is comprised of first-year students from across campus who aim to promote a balanced lifestyle in first year. By highlighting tools to achieve academic success while promoting all that the Laurier campus has to offer, students will be able to make the most of their first year. Students involved in this program will be encouraged to organize and promote creative ways to showcase Laurier’s exceptional resource base, and will help establish a culture of success that extends beyond the lecture hall.
Past Events
- Study Skills Resource Fair
- Are you Smarter Than A First Year Trivia
- Trip to Ontario Science Centre and Royal Ontario Museum
- Nuggets & Notes Study Sessions/Midterm Study Prep
Positions
- One representative per academic program
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting, held Tuesday nights
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- Council events, as scheduled
Arts Council is comprised of first-year students from across campus whose aim is to provide students with the opportunity to share their love for many different forms of art (i.e. theatre, art, food, music, poetry and dance). Students involved in this program will work together throughout the year to organize and implement their own events while exploring the arts through activities and workshops. This is a great learning and developmental experience for those interested in the arts and who want to meet other students with similar interests.
Past Events
- Dancing with the Dons
- Laurier’s Got Talent
- Wilf's Open Mic Night
- Bob Ross Paint Night
Positions
- One representative per building
- One LOCUS representative
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting, held Tuesday nights
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- Council events, as scheduled
The Athletic & Wellness Council is comprised of first-year students from across campus whose primary goal is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle in first year. The council facilitates weekly competitive and recreational leagues, monthly tournaments, weekly health and wellness activities, recreational trips, professional sport trips and charitable initiatives. Participating in these events promotes a healthy lifestyle, personal wellness as well as residence pride and unity.
Past Events
- Weekly League Play
- Res Rumble Charity Basketball Game
- Blue Mountain Ski Trip
- Trips to professional sports games
Positions
- One representative per building
- One LOCUS representative
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting, held Tuesday nights
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- Weekly league play held Thursday nights
- Council events, as scheduled
The Community Outreach Council is comprised of first-year students on and off campus and aims to connect the students of Wilfrid Laurier University to the Kitchener-Waterloo community. Students involved in this council will collaborate on planning, executing and promoting residence-wide events and programming that enable first-year students the opportunity to “reach out” and feel more closely connected with the community.
Students will have an opportunity to learn and grow alongside a group of like-minded individuals through volunteering. This council promotes equality, generosity and giving the students of Wilfrid Laurier University a chance to create a sense of home in their community.
Past Events
- Clothing Drive Fashion Show
- Gift-Wrapping Fundraiser for Epilepsy Waterloo Region
- Fly High & Tie Dye - KidsAbility Fundraiser
- Hot Chocolate Social
Positions
- One representative per building
- One LOCUS representative
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting, held Tuesday nights
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- Council events, as scheduled
The Diversity & Equity Council is comprised of first-year students from across campus who aim to unify the first-year student experience and the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion through creating integrated programming and providing increased access to campus resources. Students involved in this council will collaborate on planning, promoting, and executing campus-wide events and programming that enables the first year community to explore diversity-related topics. These students also assist and lead their respective House Councils in creating an inclusive environment within residence. The Diversity & Equity Council provides an opportunity for students to meet and interact with like-minded peers, and it is a great learning and developmental experience.
Past Events
- Diverse Holiday Celebration
- “Be” Diversity Fair
- International Women’s Day
- Slam Poetry Coffee House
Positions
- One representative per building
- One LOCUS representative
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting, held Tuesday nights
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- Council events, as scheduled
The Sustainability Council is comprised of first-year students from across campus who aim to unify Residence Life and the Sustainability office through creating integrated programming and providing increased access to campus resources. Students involved in this council will collaborate on planning, promoting, and executing residence-wide events and programming that enable the first year community to engage in sustainable activities and learn about their environmental impact. This council promotes environmental awareness, reducing consumption and making the Laurier campus a greener place.
Past Events
- Sustainability's Energy Consumption Challenge
- Pop Tab Carnival Extravaganza
- Green Screen Documentary
- Campus Clean Up
Positions
- One representative per building
- One LOCUS representative
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting, held Tuesday nights
- One weekly House Council meeting, held Wednesday nights
- Council events, as scheduled
First-Year Leadership Program Councils: Brantford
Art Hawks is a student council comprised of first-year students both on and off campus that provide first-year student peers with the opportunity to connect over their love of the arts. This can be theatre, art, food, music, poetry, dance, or much more. Students involved in this program will work together throughout the year to organize and implement their own events while exploring the arts through activities and workshops. Students will discover that Art Hawks is a great way to find and build a community that shares similar interests, and immerses themselves in learning opportunities alongside friends.
Past Events
- Tote bag painting night
- Coffee houses
- Stand-up comedy shows
- Residence-decorating competitions
- Dance classes with KAOS
Positions Available
- One council president
- One vice-president of finance and administration
- One vice-president of marketing and communication
- One vice-president of training and development
- One community representative per residence and LOCUS community
Time Commitment
- One weekly Art Hawks meeting
- Art Hawks events and supplementary meetings, as scheduled
The Athletic and Wellness Council (AWC) is a student council comprised of first-year students both on and off campus whose primary goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle that is comprised of physical health, mental health, and mindfulness. Initiatives undertaken by AWC have previously included health and wellness activities, recreational trips, charitable initiatives and professional sport trips. AWC works to use wellness and active recreation as a tool to relieve stress, socialize, and grow.
Past Events
- Free cooking classes
- Neon Dodgeball Tournament
- Professional sports trips
- Health and wellness classes
Positions Available
- One council president
- One vice-president of finance and administration
- One vice-president of marketing and communication
- One vice-president of training and development
- One community representative per residence and LOCUS community
Time Commitment
- One weekly AWC meeting
- AWC events and supplementary meetings, as scheduled
Brantford Residence Council (BRC) aims to bring first-year students living in different residence buildings together through a variety of social events. BRC creates a sense of campus-wide community through facilitating events that are uniquely shaped according to the voice of the first-year population.
Past Events
- Campus-Wide Scavenger Hunt
- Valentine’s Candy Grams
- Residence Haunted House
- Gala in the Dark
Positions Available
- One council president
- One vice-president of finance and administration
- One vice-president of marketing and communication
- One vice-president of training and development
- One community representative per residence community
Time Commitment
- One weekly BRC meeting
- BRC events and supplementary meetings, as scheduled
The Diversity and Equity Council (DEC) is comprised of first-year students from across campus who aim to enhance the first-year student experience through creating impactful EDI-focused programming and providing increased access to campus resources and partners. Students involved in this council will collaborate on planning, promoting, and executing campus-wide programming that address and explore the first-year community’s EDI needs and interests.
Positions Available
- One council president
- One vice-president of finance and administration
- One vice-president of marketing and communication
- One vice-president of training and development
- One community representative per residence community
Time Commitment
- One weekly DEC meeting
- DEC events and supplementary meetings, as scheduled
The Sustainability and Social Change Council (SSCC) is a student council comprised of first-year students both on and off campus whose aim is to introduce and further goals set by Laurier's Sustainability Office by creating integrated programming and providing increased access to campus resources. Students involved in this council will collaborate on planning, promoting, and executing events that promote the principles of sustainability with first-year students. This council promotes environmental awareness, reducing consumption and making the Laurier campus a greener place.
Past Events
- Recycled Boat Building Competition
- Re-energizing Station
- Sustainability documentary Screening
- Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
- Earth Hour Dinner
Positions
- One council president
- One vice-president of finance and administration
- One vice-president of marketing and communication
- One vice-president of training and development
- One community representative per residence and LOCUS community
Time Commitment
- One weekly council meeting
- Sustainability events and supplementary meetings, as scheduled
Leadership Certificate
The Department of Residence Leadership Certificate is a component of the First-Year Leadership Program that is comprised of a series of interactive workshops that cumulate in a capstone project which encourages first-year students to explore their own leadership style and understand the impact that they can have on the greater community.
Participation in the program will require roughly 10 hours of participation where students will engage in a series of workshops in addition to a final capstone. Workshops are offered in both the fall and winter terms, focused on Values, Choices, Collaboration and Resiliency. Students that complete the Leadership Certificate are eligible to receive credit by adding the experience to their Laurier Experience Record (LER).