The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 46, No. 1 - 82

Jonathan Manz

administrator, educator/teacher, counselor, and
role model (Blimling, 1999; Paladino, Murray,
Newgent, & Gohn, 2005). Blimling's (2019)
update to The Resident Assistant added the roles
of problem-solver, conflict mediator, campus
resource, trained observer, community builder,
and group facilitator. The leadership that RAs
demonstrate in modeling good academic performance and insider knowledge of student
needs (since they are also students), their ability
to create community within a residence hall,
and their liaison role between students and university staff position them as highly influential
members of the campus community (Blimling,
1999, 2019). As such, the ways in which RAs

model leadership, demonstrating individual
growth and the ability to lead effectively in a
diverse society, merit further investigation.
The Social Change Model (SCM) of Leadership Development was created as a tool to
guide educators in helping foster students'
abilities to work and collaborate with others
in socially responsible ways. Demonstrating
skills outlined in this model, students are able
to work effectively in both individual and community contexts (Higher Education Research
Institute [HERI], 1996). The seven values that
contribute to social change, collectively known
as the seven C's, are grouped into three categories: individual, group, and community/
society values (HERI, 1996). Table 1 provides

Table 1
Definition of Values in the Social Change Model
Level

Value

Definition

INDIVIDUAL

Consciousness
of Self

Awareness of the beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions that motivate one to
take action.

Congruence

Thinking, feeling, and behaving with consistency, genuineness, authenticity,
and honesty towards others' actions are consistent with most deeply-held
beliefs and convictions.

Commitment

The psychic energy that motivates the individual to serve and that drives
the collective effort; implies passion, intensity, and duration, and is
directed toward both the group activity as well as its intended outcomes.

Collaboration

To work with others in a common effort; constitutes the cornerstone value
of the group leadership effort because it empowers self and others through trust.

Common Purpose

To work with shared aims and values; facilitates the group's ability to engage
in collective analysis of issues at hand and the task to be undertaken.

Controversy
with Civility

Recognizes two fundamental realities of any creative group effort: that differences
in viewpoint are inevitable, and that such differences must be aired openly, but
with civility. Civility implies respect for others, a willingness to hear each others'
views, and the exercise of restraint in criticizing the views and actions of others.

Citizenship

The process whereby an individual and the collaborative group become responsibly
connected to the community and the society through the leadership development
activity. To be a good citizen is to work for positive change on the behalf of
others and the community.

GROUP

COMMUNITY

Source: (Dugan & Komives, 2010, Table 1, p. 526)

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 46, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 46, No. 1