Student leaders get year off to a SOLID start

T.J. Sullivan presents to students at the SOLID conference. Photo by Tina Nelson.

“Apathy is one of the biggest concerns for student leaders,” said Jonathan Larson, student organizations supervisor and conference organizer. “How do they get students to show up to events? How do they engage their own members?”

Sullivan’s latest book, “Motivating the Middle: Fighting Apathy in College Student Organizations,” touches on how to empower organizations by encouraging the “middle members,” those who’d rather play a supporting role.

Overcoming apathy was just one subject highlighted during SOLID. Session topics included how to deal with different personalities, team building, budgeting, marketing and event planning.

“We found that student leaders had some of the same questions over and over again at the beginning of each school year. We launched SOLID as a way to answer those questions and to support our student organizations and leaders,” Larson said. “At the same time, the leadership and management skills students are learning are transferable to many situations and settings.”

Students learned about university resources and policies, networked with each other and developed collaborative program ideas.

Students network with each other at SOLID. Photo by Tina Nelson.

“I first attended SOLID because I heard it was a good way to promote your organization,” said Amal Algahmi, president of UM-Dearborn’s Pre-Professional Health Society.

Algahmi, who presented at this year’s conference, said the informal setting encouraged collaboration and discussion among attendees. “It’s been a great way to meet people, both students and university administrators.”

The event has nearly tripled in size since its inception. This year’s conference included student leaders from UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint and Henry Ford Community College.

UM-Dearborn will continue its student leadership development offerings throughout the year with the AMAIZING Organizations workshop series.