{"id":4276,"date":"2023-12-05T09:56:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T15:56:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/set\/?page_id=4276"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:17:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:17:49","slug":"experiential-learning-working-group","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/set\/experiential-learning\/intranet\/secure\/experiential-learning-working-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Experiential Learning Working Group"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you are a faculty or staff person who would like to be added to Experiential Learning Working Group List so that you can receive invitations to future gatherings, please send an email to Laurie Marks at lmarks@uwm.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Focus on Experiential Learning at 51ÁÔÆæ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Experiential learning is a key differentiator for university education, enhancing more traditional learning with meaningful practice in a wide range of contexts. Students who participate in experiential learning report greater satisfaction and results related to workplace engagement, and employers prefer students who have engaged in these activities.1<\/sup> 51ÁÔÆæ is also uniquely well situated to provide a wide range of opportunities to our students, as we sit in Wisconsin\u2019s urban and economic center, surrounded by corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and school systems that can serve as a \u201cclassroom-outside-of-the-classroom.\u201d We already lead the way among Southeastern Wisconsin institutions of higher education in terms of partnerships within all sectors, and have the opportunity to become a destination campus for highly engaged learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experiential learning can help students close gaps between their own perceptions of their career readiness and those of employers of recent college graduates. For example, 79.4% of recent graduates believe they are proficient in oral and written communication skills, compared to employers, who report only 41.6% of recent graduates as proficient. Similarly, only 55.8% of employers consider recent graduates proficient in critical thinking and problem solving, whereas 79.9% of recent graduates rate themselves as proficient.2<\/sup> 51ÁÔÆæ should become a premier destination campus for experiential learning, meaning all students, faculty, staff, and administrators will view EL as essential to the 51ÁÔÆæ experience. Further, parents, industry leaders, and legislators should associate experiential learning with the 51ÁÔÆæ experience and as part of the identity of our graduates. This will be done by implementing specific changes at 51ÁÔÆæ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Beginning in Fall 2021 a new EL graduation requirement will provide each student with at least one meaningful EL academic experience during their undergraduate career.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. 51ÁÔÆæ internal and external marketing will promote 51ÁÔÆæ as a destination campus for experiential learning. The audience includes potential students, their parents, and the community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Creating a faculty culture that embraces and supports engaged teaching and learning practice and student success.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    1<\/sup> Ortiz, Twila; Holloway, Beth M.; Harris, Michael; Pluckebaum, A; and Jamieson, Leah H. \u201cExperiential Learning: Student Participation and Future Engagement\u201d (2015). School of Engineering Education Faculty Publications<\/em>. Paper 35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2<\/sup> National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2018 Job Outlook Survey at InsideHigherEd.com Feb, 18, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n