A Closer Look at the Program

All are expected to attend the once-a-month all-QLSP/QSP meetings as well as regular year-level meetings, the latter being optional for QSPers.

First semester of the first year QLSP and QSP students will be expected to take the two-credit Quaker Social Testimonies class.

Look for regular QLSP memos for information - reminders of events that are already mentioned on your calendars as well as surprise visitors or opportunities. Reminders may also come through the use of a phone tree - QLSP clerk(s) will call year level clerks, who will then call their group OR through e-mail.

Passional Attraction Groups have been proposed. These groups would form around a common passion (singing, the future of Quakers, chocolate, etc.) and would meet according to interest to discuss this topic. Free choice of topics and groups.

It is an expectation of the program that QLSP students will find some time each week to participate in a community of worship. Options available include College Meeting for Worship, each First Day on campus, Midweek Meeting for Worship, each Fourth Day in the Hut, or participation in one of the local Meetings for Worship.

A small booklet, "Advices, Queries, and Suggestions: A Handbook for Ministry and Oversight," the result of a senior project by Lisa Lundeen '00, outlines important aspects of QLSP/QSP to consider by each year-level. Following are general expectations:

First Year

For students entering QLSP during their first year at Guilford, activities are designed to welcome them into the Guilford and wider Quaker community. Students are matched with a Quaker contact in the faculty and staff, as well as with a "veteran" QLSP student. Enrollment in an academic course on Quakerism is expected, and participation in the weekly campus Quaker.

Concerns group, involvement in worship, and small group activities are strongly encouraged.

Required elements for a first year student include a pre-term orientation retreat, taking the course, GST 105 "Quaker Testimonies," regular year-level meetings, regular "check-ins" with the first-year staff person each semester, 2-3 combined meetings with the fourth-year QLSP group, and attendance at a select number of speakers, conferences, forums, and special meetings scheduled each year. Visits to area Meetings are also scheduled.

Students remark that one of the most meaningful parts of QLSP is the learning that takes place through meeting and interacting with other QLSP students. Thus, it is important that participants take seriously the need to be actively involved in attending QLSP functions and other occasions for meeting with Quakers on campus and in the wider Friends community.

Special first-year terms

  1. Quaker Contact Person: A student who is both new to QLSP and to Guilford College will be matched with a Quaker member of the faculty or staff to aid in the student's transition to college. Meetings between the student and the Quaker Contact will probably be more frequent during the first semester and may take whatever direction the two people feel comfortable with.

  2. QLSP Buddy: A "veteran" QLSP student will be matched with students new to QLSP and the College to further aid in transition to college life and QLSP expectations. Similar to the description of the Quaker Contact, the relationship between a new QLSPer and his/her Buddy will develop according to their particular needs.

Second Year

The second year of QLSP will continue to offer a student the opportunity to meet Quaker visitors to campus, attend conferences, retreats, and programs, take academic courses in Quakerism, and travel. Beyond these ongoing elements of the program, the second-year student will give special attention to the inward life. The work on spiritual formation and development begun in the first year will take on added focus in the second.

The student will enroll in the QLSP sophomore seminar, a two-credit, yearlong course which will focus on spiritual practice. A set of common readings will be provided, a spiritual friend will be chosen, and the group will meet together for regular discussion and worship. Attendance at a spiritual life retreat is required, and experimentation with the traditional spiritual disciplines of prayer, solitude, simplicity, devotional reading, and service are strongly encouraged and enabled. It is expected that students will become involved in the life of a local Friends Meeting.

In anticipation of re-enrollment for participation in the third-year program, students will be asked to choose an area of Quaker leadership and service on which to focus and develop an internship proposal to give first-hand experience in that area.

Special second-year terms

  1. Spiritual Friend: During the last semester of a student's first year, a spiritual friend is chosen from among Guilford faculty and staff or from the local Quaker community. Student and friend will meet regularly throughout the year for worship, conversation, and devotional consideration of the common readings.

  2. Quaker Leadership and Service: By "Quaker leadership," the QLSP program does not mean a narrow definition of "professional Friends." Rather, each and every Quaker should not only exercise gifts in ministry but also in leadership and service. In preparation for further service to society and the Religious Society of Friends, second-year students are asked to choose a particular area of service for which they wish to prepare. (See partial list in "Program Goals" above.)

Third Year

Third-year students will continue active involvement in the ongoing programs of QLSP while focusing more carefully on their chosen area of leadership and service. If a student has not yet taken a semester abroad, s/he is encouraged to do so and use the opportunity for exposure to international communities of Friends. If Guilford's offerings in Quaker studies have not yet been taken, students are expected to enroll in those. Enrollment in the QLSP junior seminar, a two-credit, yearlong course is required.

An important element of the third-year program is leadership and service development. Many opportunities are presented throughout the QLSP program for such development: Conferences on servant-leadership, activity on the student Deputations team, leadership of campus organizations, and leadership within QLSP. During the third year, students are asked to give additional time to leadership and service through developing an internship program, working with a mentor in their area of focus, and leading small group discussions and other programs for Friends Center, campus ministry, spiritual formation, and QLSP.

During the third year, students will follow a syllabus that includes consideration of writings on Quaker leadership and other issues of involvement with Friends. An important component of the year is planning a major conference for the campus on some aspect of Quakerism. Typically, the conference is held in the second or third month of the spring semester; students decide the theme and plan all aspects of the conference.

Special third-year terms

  1. Internship: During the third year, or into the first semester of a student's senior year if scheduling demands it, QLSP students are expected to develop and carry out an internship in the leadership and service area on which they are focusing. This internship may be credit-bearing if arranged through the Guilford Office of Internships and Service-Learning. Otherwise, it may be worked out in conjunction with the director of QLSP and the work site. In general, an internship requires 8-12 hours of work per week during a semester. These hours do not replace the expected involvement in on-going QLSP activity.

    Students may fulfill their QLSP internship obligation before the junior year if opportunities arise. Internships may also be done during the summer. Examples of internships performed or proposed by QLSP students thus far:

    • Meeting youth work
    • Summer internships with
      • AFSC
      • Pendle Hill
      • William Penn House
      • Kendal Corporation
    • New Garden Friends School
    • Historic Jamestown
    • Study Abroad internships
    • Work with Quaker business leaders in the Greensboro Area
    • Internship with Friends Center
    • Friends Homes retirement community

  2. Mentor: A student will work with a Friend experienced in his or her area of service. This mentor will preferably be involved in the internship, as well, but may also be chosen independently if the student and the QLSP director deem it beneficial.

  3. Third-year conference: A major weekend conference is planned by the year-level, including development of the theme, invitation of speakers, managing a budget, publicity, and taking care of logistics. Themes of past conferences have included Holistic Leadership, Quaker Decision-making, Friends and Equality, Quakers and the Arts, and Quakers and Education.

Fourth Year

In the last year of a student's participation in QLSP, s/he will continue involvement in on-going QLSP program activities, provide leadership for campus programs, and take advantage of opportunities provided for broader experience in Quakerism. Specific to the final year of the program, students will also participate in a QLSP seminar and work on a project that will benefit the QLSP program and wider community. Work may continue with a mentor, and students may seek further direct experience with and exposure to areas of Quaker leadership and service.

Special fourth year terms

  1. QLSP Seminar: Students in their last year of QLSP will meet bi-weekly with the director of QLSP and others for a 1 credit (per semester) seminar to consider topics of mutual interest and Quaker concern. The seminar is designed to be a capstone experience, tying together the loose ends of four years' focus on Quakerism and considering issues needing further attention.

    Common readings may be undertaken; special visitors and field trips may be included. Specific content of the seminar will be determined in consultation between fourth-year students and the director but usually includes use of Wilmer Cooper's A Living Faith and meetings with guests who discuss their experience of being Friends in a variety of vocations.

  2. Fourth-year Project: As part of a student's final year in QLSP, s/he will undertake a project that will share with the wider Friends community that student's particular Quaker expertise. The project may take the form of a senior thesis in the area of Quaker studies, a special program or conference organized on or off-campus, or some other activity that benefits the community with the student's knowledge and experience. A method of sharing the project must be included in the proposal.