Leadership Commitment Crisis: A Systematic Inquiry on Students’ Perspective of Davao Central College

Student leadership significantly influences organizational culture and engagement in higher education; however, Davao Central College is facing a growing issue: declining student leader commitment, which leads to disengagement and frequent withdrawal from leadership roles. This study explores the factors influencing leadership commitment through a qualitative, phenomenological approach, guided by Self-Determination Theory and Organizational Commitment Theory. The research draws on in-depth interviews with fourteen former student leaders and focus group discussions on five organizational moderators from various academic and non-academic student organizations formally recognized during A.Y. 2023–2024. Using a mixed variation-criterion sampling technique, the study uncovered thirteen major themes across three domains: role-related challenges and pressures, internal motivation and personal fulfillment, reflective and cognitive insights into leadership, leadership preparedness and role alignment, and social and environmental influences; external influences and social pressures, intrinsic motivation and passion, and altruism and values-based motivation; and communication and collaboration, institutional and structural support, strategic planning and accountability, leadership capacity building, and motivation and engagement. By capturing the lived experiences of student leaders, this study highlights how academic pressure, emotional fatigue, and a lack of preparedness impact their commitment. These insights underscore the necessity of institutional support and motivation rooted in Self-Determination Theory and Organizational Commitment Theory. Educational institutions should implement strategic interventions, such as mentorship, stress management, and leadership training, to enhance resilience and intrinsic motivation. At Davao Central College and beyond, programs tailored to student leaders’ psychological and developmental needs can reduce burnout and foster long-term engagement. Future research may explore additional influencing factors to strengthen student governance and enrich the theory-practice connection in leadership development.