Increase opportunities for experiential learning activities that provide meaningful professional experience to students through private and public partnerships.
Increase institutional capacity and support for experiential learning opportunities that are local, cost less money, and have significant impact by connecting students earlier to relevant engagement opportunities by working closely with Downtown Development Authority to create local internship opportunities, and partnerships with local industry to create more structured local internship pipelines. Also, smaller companies that align with majors and inter-programmatic internships should be looked at, as well as those that provide access to industry options for any majors at ABAC. Collaboration between entities at ABAC (Academic schools, ABAC Foundation, Student Affairs, and other administrative units) to identify, promote, and provide funding support for a wider range of student engagement and experiential learning.
Measures of success will include:
- Tracking the number of experiential learning opportunities
- Retention rate of those students who participate in these experiential learning activities
- Graduation rate of those students who participate in these experiential learning activities
- Evaluating the impact on career readiness and employment outcomes. Metrics include job placement rates, internship completion rates, and employer feedback on student performance
While in the research and development phase:
- Employers that can offer professional experiential learning (i.e., internships) have been identified
- Development of the Student Engagement Advisory Group has been developed
- Downtown Development Authority (Tifton)
- Establish internships for summer
- Look at smaller companies that align with majors and inter-programmatic internships that provide access to industry options for any major at ABAC.
- Develop a partnership with the Career Center to aid in this goal
- Collaboration between entities at ABAC (Academic schools, ABAC Foundation, Student Affairs, and other administrative units) to identify, promote, and provide funding support for a wider range of student engagement and experiential learning.
- Meet with The Student Engagement Advisory Group contains to review progress, generate ideas, and identify and resolve obstacles.
Challenges:
- Limited resources can restrict the availability and quality of experiential learning opportunities
- Measuring the outcomes of experiential learning can be complex.
- Successfully integrating experiential learning with traditional academic curricula requires careful planning and collaboration between faculty and program coordinators
- Ensuring that all students have equal access to experiential learning opportunities is crucial. Barriers such as financial constraints, disabilities, or personal obligations can limit participation
- Support from faculty advisors via the School Deans and Department Chairs is needed to help ensure success of this initiative
Supports:
- Financial support from external sources, such as grants, scholarships, and donations, can help cover the costs associated with experiential learning programs.
