WILL students meet with speakers to discuss visitors lives, work and ideas. These conversations allow WILL students to test their knowledge, to challenge themselves and one another, and to meet people with diverse experiences and perspectives. These co-curricular events complement students classroom learning and link the classroom experience to what goes on outside of class. All WILL students belong to a student organization that offers formal and informal opportunities for leadership during their four years in the program. Monthly membership meetings, student committees and an elected executive board allow members to participate actively in the organization.
Students plan, organize and participate in campus events and community action projects.
For example, WILL students may choose to participate in a mentoring program that pairs WILL students with girls at a local middle school, or they may organize fundraising events to improve the lives of women and girls in our community or in another state or country. The WILL Program is a wonderful way for students to build leadership skills, get involved on campus and in the Winona community, and make connections with other students and faculty members. The WILL program has its roots at the University of Richmond, where it was established in 1980. While Winona State University has adapted the WILL program to fit the needs of our students, the WILL program at the University of Richmond has attracted considerable national attention in recent years. The Wellesley College Center for Research on Women has studied the WILL program extensively and reported favorable research findings on the program s structure and impact.