The Office of Experiential Learning and Special Projects (OELSP) believes that for college students, what you learn in class is just the beginning. Make the most of your education by being able to apply what you are learning in your academic career to experiential learning activities. How is your learning from class contradict or reinforce the experiences that you will have as part of your career? How does your learning within and beyond the classroom impact your future decisions? These cognitive connections across experiences are what the OELSP is all about: providing experiences and having success “Experience | Success”.
While some classes integrate Experiential Learning activities into the class curricula, there are additional programs that students can apply for or become involved in to gain more experiences.
Honors Program – students accepted into the honors program will have an opportunity to be engaged in robust interdisciplinary academics and related programming that intentionally develops their curiosity and propels them toward their future careers as citizens of a global community.
Bonners Leadership Program – students accepted into the program receive professional leadership development throughout the year while completing Signiant service-learning within the local community. Bonner Leaders receive financial support that is to be used for educational purposes.
Men of Kennis – this program are for men of color who are interested in becoming teachers. Students accepted into this program will have opportunities to attend leadership events and receive a scholarship.
ASSIST Scholarship (STEM students) – the ASSIST scholarship provides funding and additional experiential learning activities for students that include mentorship and research.
Student Organizations – the Office of Student Activities provides opportunities for enhancing the social development of students by providing programs that offer cultural, recreational, and person growth opportunities and the development of leadership skills.
There are several classes in many different majors that provide students with an experiential learning activity opportunity. There are five different categories that faculty can integrate activities based on. View more information on the five categories.
Details on some of the activities that have been completed can be found in the Newsletters that were published. Additional examples are also available with faculty contact information.
Experiences are more meaningful when you can articulate and demonstrate what you’ve learned, how you’ve changed, and how those experiences have influenced you and your plans. Use these resources to try out different methods of reflections, including video, blogging, songwriting, and other creative strategies.
Resources Coming Soon
Now is the time to plan to connect your academic interests with your experiences beyond the classroom, learn to reflect, shared what you learn and apply it all to your ultimate goals.
- Begin to engage by choosing the best experiences for your.
- Engage and document your involvement.
- Reflect on your experiences, share your learning and adapt your plans as you go
- Learn to tell your story.
Be ready to share the significance of you are and what you know and can do in job interviews and graduate school applications.
Talk with your academic faculty advisor, they can help you connect with and think through opportunities beyond the classroom such as community engagement, internships, research, study abroad, and other activities or classes that you enroll in that will give you a hand-on experience related to your program of study that will assist you in skills for practical activities that you will have in your chosen career.