Fall 2022 Semester Recap

Experiential Learning on Campus

At the start of the semester, the OEL Team welcomed #UGA26 and returning students with great enthusiasm at new student orientation, resource fair events, and classroom visits. In October, OEL team members Annelise Norman and Kay Stanton led a partner workshop with @CTL for faculty to learn more about the EL degree requirement and to envision ways to deploy EL outcomes and practices in their classrooms. Kay led another workshop with graduate students to discuss experiential learning as both a pedagogical tool and a curricular staple for undergraduate students at UGA. She also hosted a workshop for deans in the humanities to expand experiential learning opportunities for students.

OEL Staff and Ambassadors engaged over 600 students at the Involvement Fair in September

Expanding EL Opportunities

19 courses and non-credit activities were approved by the University Curriculum Committee for EL credit, which expands the number of internships, volunteer roles, and courses that students are already deeply interested in that now fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement. In addition, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences adopted a blanket statement to approve all activities for EL that have been approved at the university level. Since the individual schools and colleges determine EL activity approval, this is a boon to the 33 percent of undergraduate students at UGA who pursue majors in Franklin College.

Scholarships for Experiential Learning

12 students received EL Scholarship funds to pursue EL-approved activities during the Fall 2022 semester. EL Scholarships are one of the many avenues our office has developed to make completing the Experiential Learning degree requirement a more equitable process for undergraduate students. Additionally, the Fall 2022 EL Scholarship application cycle awarded 81 students a total of $198,000 in funding to support their engagement in upcoming approved EL activities.

Engaging the Field of Experiential Education

This semester, Director of University Experiential Learning Andrew Potter presented at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) in Las Vegas, Nevada, and at the national conference of the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU). At GCEC, Andrew presented on innovations in project-based learning with Dr. Donald Chambers from UGA’s Terry College of Business and Entrepreneurship Program. In November, Andrew served as a panelist discussing the impact of UGA’s EL initiatives on promoting rural student success at UERU in Arlington, Virginia.

In September, the OEL team travelled to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the annual meeting of the Society of Experiential Education. During the four-day conference, OEL team members attended dozens of panels and exchanged ideas for implementing positive change in EL program administration with peers in higher education from around the globe. OEL Director, Andrew Potter, served his first term on the NSEE board of directors, while new OEL team members Annelise Norman (Scholarships & PR), Amy Sweet (Business Development), and Devin Maitra (Operations) began coursework for certification from the Experiential Education Academy. The team left the conference feeling energized and inspired by their commitments to experiential education and supporting the Experiential Learning Initiative at UGA. Here’s what the team had to say about their experience at the conference:

“The SEE conference provides an annual moment for the entire EL team to gather, reflect and strategize alongside peer and aspirational institutions from across the nation. It plays a critical role in ensuring that our team is equipped to help every UGA student to maximize their experiential learning so that they are ready to thrive.” – Andrew Potter, Director of University Experiential Learning

“Going to the SEE conference always gives me a jolt of inspiration when I see the innovative work others are doing in the field. This year I really enjoyed the way some programs use radical collaboration to partner directly with their students. This is a great way to get an informed perspective on how to increase access and lessen barriers through best practices in equitability of EL and HIPs [High-Impact Practices].” – Kay Stanton, Assistant Director of Operations

“One of the best parts of SEE ’22 was the networking. It was so inspiring to speak with administrators from our peer and aspirational institutions and work out ways to change and improve our processes.” – Amy Sweet, Senior Manager, Business Development

“Attending the panels at SEE was really energizing. I’ve spent the last few months reading my way into the field of experiential education, but hearing the speakers share their varied perspectives and experiences brought the discourse to life.” – Annelise Norman, EL Scholarships & Public Relations Coordinator

“The networking opportunities at SEE were great. It was really cool to meet people from other institutions that are just as passionate about experiential learning as we are as a team.” – Devin Maitra, Operations Coordinator

(Left to right) Devin, Amy, and Annelise posed for a photo at a networking event during the NSEE conference.

It’s been a busy and productive semester, and the OEL team continues to forge ahead in service of undergraduate students’ experiential education at UGA.

Annelise Norman holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia, where she currently works as the Scholarships & Public Relations Coordinator for the Office of Experiential Learning. Annelise can be contacted at anorm94@uga.edu. For the latest news and announcements from EL, follow us on Instagram.