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Culver Girls Academy

CGA Prefect System

In carrying out the Culver Mission, the CGA leadership system allows for practical application of important life skills through a participatory, collaborative community-based model. Once inspired by the prefect concept of student government in the public schools of Great Britain, the prefect system uses a committee structure that parallels democratic government to support Culver values. The committee framework and a developed organizational structure give students a variety of opportunities to serve as citizens and leaders within the school.
 
The CGA mission is to educate and inspire young women through a developmental leadership and life skills curriculum designed to prepare them as leaders within the Culver community and for their future lives in an ever-changing global world. The information that follows in the CGA section of this chapter provides a broad overview of the CGA leadership development program. A more detailed account of the system and the specific leadership positions involved may be found in the CGA Student Leadership Information and Position Guidelines manual.
 
The goals of the Prefect System are:
  • To increase self-awareness
  • To build self-confidence and develop one’s own voice
  • To foster a sense of connectedness and appreciation for the communal good
  • To empower young women to lead and make a difference in the lives of others
  • To establish a solid foundation for leadership in the global world

In the broadest concept of leadership, a Prefect should uphold the integrity and traditions of the Academies with dignity, good humor, and sustained effort in all ways, at all times, and in all places. Prefects support rules and regulations, and serve on various committees providing them with extended experience in the responsibility and exercise of leadership. A leader’s responsibility is not limited to the specific duties of her position. Girls who are not currently assigned a formal position are encouraged to meet these expectations. In preparation for serving as leaders within CGA, all girls attend leadership and life skills development workshops. The leadership and life skills curriculum is developmental by grade and aligned with the academic leadership curriculum. Through this instruction, as well as observation, practice, and reflection, girls learn leadership and life skills that they will use as they assume leadership positions within the prefect system and throughout life. Leadership comes from the inside out and is behavior that does not require a position or title.

In addition to the developmental progression of leadership and life skills training girls receive, there is also a distinct progression to the practical aspects of the CGA Prefect System as outlined below:

  • Freshmen (and other girls new to Culver) learn how to take care of themselves, how to follow, and how to be positive contributors to their dormitories and CGA. Freshmen can demonstrate leadership in the classroom, on the field, through committee work, and throughout campus. We would like for our Freshmen to experience the joy of serving others and learn followership in their first year.

  • Sophomores continue to learn how to care for themselves, as well as beginning to care for others and put others first. They serve as a Big Sister or mentor for another girl(s), may assume some introductory leadership responsibility within the dorm, and may demonstrate leadership in the classroom, on the field, through committee work, and throughout campus. Sophomores are responsible to act as excellent followers, but also are responsible for helping out the Freshmen class and ensuring they are acclimating to Culver well. Sophomores continue to experience the joy of serving others.

  • Juniors continue to care for others in an expanded role by serving in formal leadership positions and working within the CGA committee structure. They also demonstrate leadership in the classroom, on the field, through committee work, and throughout campus to Freshmen and Sophomores and others, as Culver expects leadership behaviors to become a part of who they are. Juniors also begin thinking about and laying the groundwork for their Senior Service Project.

  • Seniors assume responsibility for the care of all the girls while serving in or out of leadership positions, chairing committees, and overseeing the CGA Prefect System. Seniors model the leadership behaviors and hold their fellow students accountable. Seniors complete a Senior Service Project, which offers them the unique opportunity to make a difference within the broader community and demonstrate leadership in an area that they find relevant and meaningful to them.

In order to give girls as many leadership experiences as possible, the school year is divided into three rotations approximately three months long and leaders assume new positions each rotation, with the exception of the Honor representative, who holds the position for the entire year.

Girls who successfully complete the leadership and life skills training process are eligible to be appointed or elected to prefect positions as juniors and seniors. Prefects are appointed at the discretion of the Dean of Girls with input from the CGA staff. A special application process is provided for new juniors and seniors each fall so that they may be eligible for leadership during the third rotation.

Qualifications for juniors and seniors to hold leadership
  1. Demonstrated ability to lead by example as evidenced by the candidate’s citizenship record (no assignment to the citizenship ineligibility list).
  2. Demonstrated ability to expend the time necessary for effective leadership as evidenced by the candidate’s academic record (2.50 GPA or higher, with no F’s) at the conclusion of each grading period and term.
  3. Tenure at the Academies as evidenced by successful completion of the CGA Crest program.
  4. Successful completion of Leadership Training.
CGA Honor Council

The Honor Council administers the Honor Code within CGA. It consists of one elected Honor Representative from each dorm. The Honor Council is an integral part of Culver’s student-run Honor system, and the members of the Honor Council will hear all cases involving suspected honor offenses and make recommendations for their adjudication to the Dean of Girls. The Honor Council also educates the community about the Honor Code, leads new girls through Crest Training, and plans the CGA Crest Ceremony.

CGA Council

The CGA Council is charged with promoting leadership, responsibility, unity, and morale in CGA. It provides an important student voice within the CGA government. The chairwoman will confer regularly with the Dean of CGA to provide open, two-way communication between the students and the Deans with the common goal of improving student life at Culver.

Council Membership consists of the following student positions:

Council Chair, Senior Prefect, Aide to the Administration/Alumni, Diversity Chair, Honor Council Chair, Dorm Chairs, CWC Co-Chairs (1st and 2nd Rotation), Freshmen Life Skills Chair, Leadership and Life Skills Chair, Leadership Training Chair, Admissions Chair (1st Rotation), Communications Chair, Dining Hall Chair, Fine Arts Chair, Safety and Security Chair, Spiritual Life Chair, Sustainability Chair, Secretary of the Council, Class Presidents, and Faculty Advisors.

CGA Senior Advisory Board

This is a group of prefects, determined by their leadership position during a particular rotation, which the Dean of Girls may consult at her discretion regarding CGA issues or events. The Senior Prefect may also convene this group as needed. The SAB includes the Senior Prefect, Honor Chair, Aide to Administration, CGA Council Chair, Diversity Chair, and the eight Dorm Chairs.

Dormitory Committee

The purposes of the dormitory committees are to create unity and pride in the dormitory, to plan dormitory functions, to assist dormitory residents in being successful residents of the school community, and to serve as a peer counseling group. The Dorm Chair will organize and promote the programs and assert the leadership that will promote excellence in her dormitory.

Leadership Induction

This ceremony, conducted at the conclusion of the prefect training program, celebrates the transition of leadership from the outgoing prefects to the new perfects for the following academic year. New prefects take the following oath, which is renewed at the beginning of each rotation by all prefects assuming new positions.

On my honor as a leader, I will strive to make ethical and responsible decisions, to support the rules and regulations, to care for others, to conduct myself with integrity, and to serve the community. These I pledge to do in the best interest of Culver Girls Academy and for those for whom I am responsible.

Leadership Suspension

Prefects may be suspended from leadership status for cause as determined and imposed at the discretion of the Dean of Girls.

Suspension means immediate removal from prefect responsibilities as determined at the discretion of the Dean of Girls, in consultation with the counselor, along with the loss of all leader privileges. Suspension may occur as a result of the following:

  1. Failure to perform responsibilities and/or set an appropriate example as a prefect.
  2. Assignment to the citizenship ineligibility list during a term.
  3. An infraction, which, in the opinion of the Dean of Girls would make it difficult for a
  4. student to lead effectively (Citizenship Warning always results in suspension).
  5. A GPA below 2.7 at the end of a grading period or term; a failing grade always results in suspension.

Reinstatement following suspension will be determined at the discretion of the Dean of Girls when, in her opinion, it is clear that the standards for leadership have been met. In the case of academic standards, mid-term grades may, at the discretion of the Dean of Girls, make a student eligible for leadership reinstatement.

A prefect found guilty of an honor violation is required to resign from her position, and her prefect status will be suspended.

Loss of Leadership for a single offense

In the event a CGA prefect loses leadership due to a single offense, she will be placed on the citizenship ineligibility list for the term in question. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Dean of Girls with the advice of the CGA counselors. This allows restoration of all or a portion of the previously held leadership responsibilities four weeks following completion of the corrective action for the offense in question. The restoration of leadership is not automatic; it must be earned through actions and a positive attitude. CGA leaders serving in chair position will not be eligible for reinstatement into that position, will not be eligible for appointment to a new chair position or to participate in the Leader Charge.

Informal Leadership

In the event that the number of eligible leaders is greater than the number of positions available, some girls will not be appointed to formal leadership positions. Leadership is a behavior that is still expected by our girls whether in or out of a formal position. When a student is not placed in a formal leadership role due to the limited number of formal positions, there is no loss of leadership privileges.

Students are not allowed to opt out of CGA’s leadership program, although they may request to delay or postpone their obtainment of formal positions for a rotation, if, for example, they are very active in a leadership role on a sports or other team, find their academic load overly challenging, or other extenuating circumstances of the like. A student who requests the postponement of their consideration for a formal leadership position or a student who has been removed from a position for a rotation will lose leadership privileges. Any senior unwilling to fulfill her leadership responsibilities will lose senior privileges.

Drill Team

The Drill Team is an honor organization for interested girls within CGA. To be eligible for membership, girls must meet the following requirements:

  1. At least one semester of participation in the Drill Team;
  2. A minimum GPA of 2.7 (with no F’s) for the most recent grading period or term;
  3. Maintain citizenship eligibility; and
  4. Sufficient drill abilities to meet the demands of performances.
Equestriennes

The Equestriennes is an honor organization for CGA students enrolled in equine science. To be eligible for membership, a rider must meet the following requirements:

  1. One term of participation in equine science;
  2. Minimum GPA of 2.7 in the most recent grading period or term (with no F’s);
  3. Maintain citizenship eligibility; and
  4. Riding ability sufficient to meet the demands of performances.

The CGA Crest

The fundamental themes of the CGA prefect system are represented in the CGA Crest. The symbols in the quadrants of the crest represent the following virtues:

  • Oak leaf surrounded by chain – strength of friendship
  • Star enclosed by wreath — service and success
  • Broadswords and scales — strength and justice
  • Open book flanked by torches — knowledge and tradition

The CGA Crest is awarded to new girls in a special ceremony normally held in January or February. This event symbolizes the conclusion of the new girls’ formal orientation to Culver and is a ceremony officially welcoming them as full members of CGA. In order to qualify for their Crests, girls must successfully complete Crest Requirements and be in good citizenship standing for both the first and second term. For those who do not qualify initially, the CGA Crest may be awarded during the spring of the first year.