Records of the Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development

Reference code

49

Level of description

Collection

Title

Records of the Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development

Date(s)

  • 1931-2012+ (Creation)

Extent

22.26 linear feet [53 boxes]

Name of creator

Administrative history

Student organizations have long played a role on the campus of St. Cloud State University. The University Archives has Student Activity Council (SAC) minutes going back to the 1950s. The purpose of the SAC was to budget and provide to organizations which enhanced the cultural, recreational, and/or intellectual life at the University. SAC also prepared policies for the organizations to follow and abide by. It was followed by the Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development.

The Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development (CSOLD) was developed in 2004/2005 as a resource for student organizations, leadership programs, fraternities and sororities, and service and service-learning opportunities.

The mission of the Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development (CSOLD) was to inspire, challenge, and connect students through organization involvement, service, and leadership exploration. The office was a resource to students in the following areas: student organizations, leadership programs, fraternities and sororities, and service and service-learning opportunities.

CSOLD had been a resource to over 250 student organizations in a variety of categories including academics, sports clubs, religious and spiritual, and political and social concerns. CSOLD coordinated events for student organizations, including officer and advisor training and the annual Mainstreet student organization fair.

CSOLD programs included leadership exploration, education, training, and development experiences in many different formats. Leadership programs included Workshops on Demand, the Excellence in Leadership Award program, and “What Color is Your Personality”™ workshops..

Fraternities and Sororities were supported through the CSOLD office. The learning community was an experience that challenged each fraternity and sorority member to commit him/herself to living to a higher standard. Members of fraternities and sororities could be found doing community service in neighborhoods near St. Cloud State University, volunteering at local events or organizing philanthropic activities to benefit local/national causes, research, and social issues.

On July 11, 2011, CSOLD and the University Programming Office (UPB) merged to become the Department of Campus Development.

Scope and content

This collection contains records from (and about) the Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development, often called CSOLD.  The records date from 1931-2012, with the vast majority of the items pertaining to the plethora of student organizations that have existed over the years.  Additions to this collection may be ongoing.

The collection is arranged into eight series, which are as follows:

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1954-1987

This series consists of financial information and minutes for the collection.  Included within the financial records are items related to budget requests, allotments, disbursements, and expenditures. The items connected with the minutes include agendas, memos, and correspondence.  The records are organized first by financial information, followed by minutes, and then chronologically within.

Series 2: Atwood Board of Governors, 1965-1977, 1992

This series contains administrative records such as minutes and the constitution for the Atwood Board of Governors, which was a group that developed, organized, and implemented programs which served the cultural, educational, recreational, and social interests of the study body.  Also included are budget requests and a few brochures of happenings at Atwood Memorial Center such as film nights.

Series 3: Events, 1960-2002

The records in this series pertain to events bringing the campus community together, such as Homecoming and New Student Days.  The collection includes administrative records and brochures for each event, along with photographs for celebrations such as Mainstreet (1993-1995) and the Husky Hoopla.

Series 4: Major Events Council, 1970-1978

This series contains agendas, minutes, financial records, correspondence, brochures and fliers.  The Major Events Council was responsible for the development and administration of major programs which serve the cultural, educational, recreational, and social interests of the students and staff/faculty.  Included are fliers and brochures for programs put on by the Council, such as the Classical Concert Series and Performing Artists Series,

Series 5: Photographs, Miscellaneous, 1989-1999

This is undoubtedly the smallest series in the overall collection, barely filling one folder.  Included are miscellaneous photographs of students on campus, at the bookstore, eating, and at a Student Organizations office.

Series 6: Publications, 1972-2012

This is a relatively small series which consists of publications regarding student life on campus.  The Student Organization Guidebooks discusses relevant University and student organization policies, such as conduct, finances, event planning, etc.  The Soothsayer was a magazine about St. Cloud College and college life that was published during the 1970s.  It was sponsored and developed by the Office of Student Activities.

Series 7: Student Organizations, 1931-2000

The bulk of the collection is in this series, which resides in boxes 12-38.  The Student Organization files are arranged alphabetically, starting with Abelism Awareness to Zeta Sigma Chi.  The student clubs are quite diverse, with everything from fraternities and sororities to the Star Trek Society and Jugglers Against Oppression.  The items in these files include correspondence, organization recognition forms, organization membership rosters, and budget requests.  Some also include directories.

Series 8: Excellence in Leadership: 1988-2009

This series is arranged chronologically.  Files for each year begin with any correspondence or administrative records for the year, and are then followed by the files for the student winners.  The records for the students include their applications for the award, reference letters, and sometimes headshots.

The first Annual Awards Banquet took place on April 30, 1989.  Students who won the Excellence in Leadership awards were ones who had demonstrated contributions to St. Cloud State University and the local community.  The criteria for selecting award recipients include(d) leadership, creativity, social responsibility, and/or active participation in the campus and/or community.  Students also had to be enrolled for at least 12 credits and have completed 144 credits with a 3.25 or higher grade point average.

System of arrangement

Records are located at 30C.1b-7f and 30D.1a-2f.

Conditions governing access

There are no restrictions to the collection except for the applications in the Leadership in Excellence Awards series. For more information, please contact the Archives.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Permission to publish, quote, and reproduce must be secured from the copyright holder.

Languages of the material

  • English

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    Finding aids

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    Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

    Accruals

    Additions to this series will be ongoing.

    Existence and location of originals

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    Archivist's note

    Processed by Alissa LaChapelle. Kylee Glen added material to this collection in November 2020.

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