Exploring Leadership Development Amongst Students Engaged in Residence Hall Council

Students learn how to be a leader and how to develop their leadership capacity as they participate in shared experiences or learning communities, many of which are facilitated by student affairs professionals through campus activities programs. For large numbers of college students, their first learning community, and subsequent path to future campus involvement, is their residential community. This qualitative study explored how participating in a residence hall council impacted students’ conceptualization of leadership and their individual leadership development. Two overarching themes emerged. First, students do in fact build leadership capacity, motivation, and leadership efficacy from participating in collaborative, learning community environments, such as a hall council. Second, the role and behaviors of the learning community advisor matter, providing practical considerations for all student affairs practitioners.