UMKC Women's Center
Women In Learning and Leadership (WILL) Program
A Living Learning Community
What is WILL?
WILL creates an exciting living
learning community where students explore the complexity of women’s
lives on campus, in the community, and in the world. Programs and
activities encourage residents to develop strong leadership skills and
interact within the Kansas City community.
The UMKC WILL Program is based on a nationally-recognized living learning community model and sponsored by the Women’s Collaborative, comprised of the Women’s Center, the Women’s Council, and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. This collaboration allows the WILL Program to offer exciting opportunities to participate in workshops, films, cultural events, and other gender-focused programming; to develop strong leadership skills while interacting with the Kansas City community, and to be challenged intellectually through engaging coursework. WILL also provides a supportive learning environment, in which students learn about the particular challenges women have faced and continue to face, while developing leadership skills they will use in their careers and their communities.
All WILL residents will have the opportunity to attend Women’s Center events, join in dinners with Women’s Council and other community members, and enroll in Women’s and Gender Studies coursework. WILL members will also be invited to participate in the Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP) program as Big Sisters to 7th-grade girls in a local middle school. YWLP Big Sisters earn course credit while making a difference in the community.
WILL Program Goals
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To encourage critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and active learning opportunities that empower young women as leaders during and beyond their college tenure;
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To foster a deeper understanding of women’s diverse roles and contributions to society;
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To increase awareness of obstacles women have faced and are facing, and of individual and collective strategies to address these issues;
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To promote the self-esteem and self-confidence of its members;
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To provide opportunities for women to explore career and life choices;
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To cultivate skills for living and working with people of diverse backgrounds and opinion.
What are the benefits
of joining WILL?
Participation in WILL:
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Empowers women as leaders and engaged citizens during and after college;
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Promotes a network for female students to cultivate academic and social support;
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Reinforces skills for working with people of diverse backgrounds and opinions;
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Provides opportunities in and out of the classroom to explore career and life choices
Who can join?
Any female UMKC student is
welcome to become a part of the WILL community. Students from all
disciplines are encouraged to join. Diverse academic backgrounds will
only make the WILL community stronger!
How do I apply?
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Complete your UMKC student housing application, available online at: http://www.umkc.edu/housing/housingapplications.asp.
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Select Oak Street Hall as your residence hall of choice.
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Indicate that you would like to reside in the WILL community.
How can I get more
information?
Contact Brenda Bethman at
816.235.1638 or email
bethmanb@umkc.edu. Those with speech or hearing impairments may use
Relay Missouri, 1-800-735-2966 (TT) or 1-800-735-2466 (voice).
UMKC Women’s
Collaborative
A partnership between the UMKC
Women’s Center, the UMKC
Women’s Council,
and the Women’s and
Gender Studies Program, designed to support and promote the
University’s commitment to women’s education, scholarship, and personal
and professional growth.
