1. Office of Experiential Learning By: Michael Messano Marlene Mendoza Isamara Reyes

2. Overview

Experiential Learning has been supported by UCF since the opening of the university in 1968.

Allows students to gain practical experience and apply what they learn to real-world problems.

20,000 students at UCF participate in experiential learning in co-op, internships, and service-learning courses.

3. Mission

To enhance academic study and student competency development, promote regional economic vitality, and build ongoing partnerships with employers and community partners locally, nationally, and internationally through curriculum-specific applied learning experiences for UCF students.

4. Opportunities for students

Co-op and Internships

• Allows one to experience real world job situations.

Service Learning

• Service-learning enables students to take academics out of the classroom and into the community.

Professional Skills Modules

• Created tutorials that will help you to become proficient in these skills.

5. Prospective Co-op/Internship Students

Discuss your academic and professional goals with a faculty member in the program

Learn resume techniques that will help you land a great opportunity

In conjunction with your assigned faculty member, choose co-op and internship opportunities which will support your academic andprofessional goals

Have your resume referred to organizations of interest

Interview with organizations interested in your qualifications

6. Benefits of Internships

Most positions are locatedoff-campus, and all co-op students are paida competitive wage.

Some students may be eligible for course credit and should check with their academic advisor to see if this is a possibility.

7. Service-Learning

Students work with community partners such as:

• non-profit organizations

• public schools

• government agencies

• campus groups

• businesses

• Students develop skills and knowledge that will help them to become civically responsible members of the community.

• Examples of these skills are:

• • Reflection

• • Development

• • Meaningful Service

• • Diversity

8. Professional Skills Modules

Professional skills, also known as "soft" skills, are crucial to ones successin almost any professional environment, but are not often explicitly taught.

TheOffice of Experiential Learning created tutorials that will help you to become proficient in these skills.

Examples are:

• Working on Effective Teams

• Making Ethical Decisions

9. How can you get into the Co-op program?

1) To be eligible to register you need to meet all requirements.

2) Once you qualify for the program, you apply by going to the website:www.expleraning.ucf.edu

3) You will be notified of your status in the program within 48 hours of applying.

4) Next an interview will be set up.

5) Finally check which faculty member you should see based on your major.

10. Statistics

Co-op

Co-op has grown from 400 to over 900 students per semester making the program one of the largest in the country.

Participating students work multiple semesters, come from all Colleges in 63 degree programs, work in an average of 635 employer learning sites, and earn $11.2 million in salaries.

The program actively works with over 1300 employers.

Service-Learning

There are now 81 Service-Learning courses. Last year, 62 of these classes were taught in which 3600 students provided 54,000 hours of service to 667 non-profit agencies each semester.

The program was awarded a Most upcoming program award by Florida Campus Compact in 2004

11. Location and Contact Information

Director:Dr. Sheri Dressler

Main Office:

CSEL300

Phone: (407) 823-2667

Business Students:

BA I, Room 130

Phone: (407) 823-5581

Engineering and Computer Science Students:

ENG II, Room202c

Hospitality Students:

Rosen Campus, Suite 201

Phone: (407) 903-8017 / (407) 903-8018

12. The End