University of Houston Athletics
Private Gift Funds Valuable Leadership Program
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cougar Pride
Oct. 15, 2010
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Athletics Department is pleased to announce that the Cougar Pride Leadership Development Program will become a reality in the fall of 2010. Thanks to a generous $250,000 donation from a private donor, funding has been secured to create a leadership academy that will be the first in Conference USA and will enhance the overall experience of Houston's student-athletes.
The Cougar Pride Leadership Development Program will bring student-athletes together regularly from freshman year through to graduation with programming and activities that promote well-being, academic potential, leadership ability and sense of responsibility to family, teammates and community.
The curriculum for the freshman level program (New Cougars) has been developed from the NCAA Champs/Life Skills Program and covers five areas: Academic Commitment, Personal Development, Career Development, Service Commitment, and Athletic Commitment.
The New Cougars Program is aimed at increasing academic and personal success at the very start of the college career with the additional goals of increasing retention and identifying future leaders. Topics range from time management and note-taking skills to etiquette.
The curriculum for the Emerging Leaders and Cougar Captains Programs is based primarily on the Janssen Sports Leadership Principles and emphasizes leadership by example (Emerging Leaders) and vocal leadership (Cougar Captains) as well as succession of leadership roles to younger teammates.
Mentoring and community service will play a major role in the Cougar Pride Leadership Development Program, and plans are to involve faculty from the Graduate School of Social Work, various UH academic units, including Military Science and Kinesiology, and community agencies in developing a program that will be dynamic and responsive in meeting the needs of Houston's student-athletes for comprehensive life skills and leadership training.
