History
History of Next
Step
In
1993, a group of staff and students at Colorado State University came
together in response to the need for a forum for students to discuss
issues of social justice. In 1994, the first CSU Multicultural
Leadership Retreat was
held. It has been held every year since. In 2002, two former
participants and facilitators of the CSU MLR both came to UVM, one as a
staff member, the other as a grad student, and saw a need for a similar
program here. Many on campus were asking for just such a forum and the
university mission and common ground clearly stated that inclusive
community and understanding of cultural diversity were priorities.
These
two individuals brought together a group of staff, faculty, and
students from various locations on campus who revised the CSU program
and made it applicable to UVM. Even in its first year, participants had
to be turned away as the interest in such a program was so high---in
its first year in 2003, UVM’s Next Step hosted 53 students!
For the first five years of the Next Step program, a planning committee of retreat alumni, past facilitators, and UVM professional staff spent a year planning the logistics, the curriculum, and fundraising the significant costs of the retreat.
In 2007, the
Department of Student Life took on Next Step as a program, providing
funding and staff logistical support. In 2009, the Next Step
retreat secured its place as part of the Leadership & Civic
Engagement programs
in Student Life. Next Step has now established itself as a
foundational experience for members of the UVM community.
With
the support of two logistical staff members, a team of 8-10 members of
campus on the Next Step advisory committee, and the involvement of past
alumni, Next Step is dedicated to involving as many UVM folks as
possible in this special experience.