Triad is a year-long leadership program established to train and develop a cohort of capable, creative, and ethical undergraduate Tier III student leaders. The program is grounded in the core principles of integrity, stewardship, and community.

The program is coordinated through the Leadership Office and consists of various elements that prepare the organizations’ officers to lead their organizations with integrity, act as responsible stewards of the student fees they receive, and make thoughtful decisions that positively impact the entire University community. Retreats, bi-weekly dinners, and experiential activities are the core components of the program.

Like the SOLID program for Tier II organizations, the Triad Leadership Program is a requirement for Tier III student leaders. The program is also available to other members of Tier III student organizations, and it is recommended that students interested in pursuing executive leadership positions participate whenever possible.

 

Organizations that participate in the Triad Leadership Program include:

• The Daily Campus
• Nutmeg Publishing
• Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG)
• Undergraduate Student Government (USG)
• UConn-PIRG
• UCTV
• WHUS

Bi-weekly Meetings

The core of the Triad Leadership Program is the bi-weekly meetings open to all members throughout the academic year, covering various leadership and organizational management topics. Members have an active part in selecting topics that affect their organizations. Past bi-weeklies have featured “leadership style”, “group theory”, and “ethical decision making”.

April Retreat

The Triad Leadership Program begins its training for new members with a retreat scheduled at the end of April. This retreat allows the incoming student leaders a chance to get to know one another for the first time since they accepted their new positions. The event introduces the Triad Leadership Program to all new members and includes team-building, expectation activities, and goal setting. The April Retreat is a great time for the new cohort to begin their journey together as they step into their new leadership roles.

August Retreat

The Triad Leadership Program kicks off the new academic year with an overnight August Retreat at which students have the unique opportunity to explore their individual and organizational values, develop goals and action plans for the coming semester, and strengthen the cohort that will become their support network throughout the year. The retreat includes a high energy challenge course, an overnight stay at camp, and several workshops including one on University policies and procedures for Tier III organizations and one on sexual harassment and bullying prevention.

The August Retreat provides these students with important information about relevant University policies and procedures, organizational management and leadership techniques, as well as the opportunity to meet and begin working with one another. The retreat starts off with a high energy challenge course that all members partake in. Afterwards, the group heads to a camp where different sessions are held. Past session topics have included goal setting, member retention and commitment, ethical decision making, and financial management.

January Retreat

The Triad Leadership Program continues in the spring semester with a retreat in January. The January Retreat is an opportunity for students to reflect on the growth of each organization during the past semester and to reconnect with their peers. The students participate in activities focusing on such topics as diversity, group maintenance, and leadership style. The January Retreat also provides helpful guidance for those organizations that are about to go through organizational transition. Outgoing officers are given the information and tools they will need to successfully transition their organizations.

Stewardship Awards

The Triad Leadership Program concludes with the Stewardship Awards, a celebration to recognize the work of the outgoing leaders.

During the Stewardship Awards, the Triad Leadership Program presents four awards based on Tier III Student Organizations’ work in the four areas of stewardship. These areas: Constituents, Members, Assets, and Administrator Relations represent the core areas of responsibility and accountability that all Tier III Student Organizations work on during the year. More Information can be found here.

For more information on the Triad Leadership Program, please contact Krista O’Brien at krista.obrien@uconn.edu or call the Leadership Office at (860) 486-6588.