Final papers due by 4 p.m.,
Thursday, January 26
Please fill out the course evaluation.

January 2012, 10 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., on dates below

Hopkins Rogers Room (401), unless otherwise specified

Earl Dudley and Fred Hitz

This course will examine a wide variety of issues related to leadership and responsibility, in both public- and private-sector settings. We will explore these issues in large part through the experiences of men and women who have held leadership roles in these contexts. We will look at issues of corruption and fraud in the private sector. We will examine the changing role of lawyers in advising and guiding their clients. We will look at environmental issues from the perspective of both private institutions and government regulators. We will discuss issues facing leaders in higher education. We will look at questions of responsibility facing political leaders at the state level in our federal system. And we will examine leadership issues as they have arisen in historical contexts.  The majority of class sessions will be led by guest speakers, most, though not all, of whom are distinguished alumni of the college. Students will be expected to take an active role in introducing and helping to lead discussions involving the guest speakers.

Evaluation will be based on attendance, preparation, and participation in class discussions, and a final 10-page paper. You should do the readings assigned before class. All readings are online with the exception of two books. You are expected to purchase the books, available at Water Street Books: Profiles in Leadership, edited by Walter Isaacson; and The Wrong War by Bing West.

Students who miss more than two class sessions (except in case of illness) will receive a grade of Perfunctory Pass or lower.

Meeting our guest speakers, and probing their approaches to organizational leadership and social responsibility, is the primary goal of this Winter Study. Each student will be asked to host one of the guests, meeting him or her at dinner or breakfast before the class meeting, then introducing the guest and stimulating the discussion after the guest’s opening statement. After each visit, we will spend some time at the following class session de-briefing, sharing impressions, surprises, and lessons learned.

The 10-page final paper may take a variety of forms and formats, but should address what you see as the basic themes in the readings and what you have learned from the guest speakers — both collectively, and more specifically in the cases of at least three different individuals. See the instructions below. A specific proposal — one paragraph and an outline — is due on January 18.

• Hosting duties.
• Instructions for final paper.
• Fill out online course evaluation. Please do this by February 3.

Course Outline

Support from the Program in Leadership is gratefully acknowledged. We also acknowledge with pleasure the indispensable help of Carrie Greene.