Spring 2024 Semester Review

As the Spring semester concludes, the Office of University Experiential Learning is proud to share the notable achievements and initiatives that have defined our academic year. Our dedication to fostering excellence and innovation continues to enhance experiential opportunities for our students.

Experiential Learning on Campus

This spring, team members Annelise Norman (Scholarships & Public Relations) and Kay Stanton (Assistant Director) led a workshop for advisors through the Learning & Development Center. Their efforts in educating advisors about the Experiential Learning (EL) degree requirement and student options are crucial for ensuring that our graduates are ready to thrive. Amy Sweet (Sr. Manager, Business Development) continued to advance the Internship Forum, a collaborative initiative focused on work-integrated learning opportunities. During the Spring meeting, the Forum identified leaders for working groups, shared internship course resources across schools and colleges, and explored non-credit internship pathways for undergraduates.

Fellows Shane Hoey, Laura Neely, Taral Patel, and George Katz collaborated with Farmers Home Furniture on an emerging talent pipeline strategy during the spring semester.

Under the leadership of Andrew Potter (Director), the Student Industry Fellows Program completed seven high-impact projects this semester. Students collaborated with industry leaders from organizations such as Augusta National Golf Club, Farmers Home Furniture, Southwire, Sunnyland Farms, Schréder, Double Helix School, and Anti-Fog Technology. Additionally, four Fellows attended the University Innovation Fellows Program Meetup at the DesignLab University of Twente in the Netherlands, fostering global networks and innovation competencies.

Expanding EL Opportunities

OEL piloted four Connect Abroad programs this spring, designed exclusively for first-year students. These immersive programs, held in Morocco, Italy, Cuba, and the United Kingdom, connected 109 students with peers, faculty, and unique cultural experiences over UGA’s Spring Break. Faculty and staff from OEL and the Office of Global Education facilitated these programs, which focused on innovation and culminated in the Photovoice project showcase.

Connect Abroad Morocco participants, faculty, and staff pose for a photo.

Amy Sweet, who staffed the Italy program, reflected, "I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have been able to support the Connect Abroad: Italy trip this year. I got to know thirty amazing first year students and witness them experience the history, food, and culture of Italy."  

"Most important, though, were the deep connections and friendships cultivated through this experience. These connections and experiences will last well beyond their four years at the University of Georgia and will undoubtedly impact how these students engage in and take on new experiences moving forward."

Throughout the Connect Abroad programs, first-year students reflected on and documented the impact of their Spring Break experiences through journals and photographs. Each student selected their top four images accompanied by contextual and reflective narratives. These were submitted to Connect Abroad faculty members, and each program group voted on the top submissions that best captured the essence of their international experiences. The selected Photovoice projects were then showcased at the Tate Student Center, highlighting the profound impact of these programs on our students.

The top 16 photos and narratives from all Connect Abroad programs were displayed at the Tate Student Center in April.

In addition to the Connect Abroad initiative, we continued to grow EL programming through our established approval pathways. During the spring semester, the University Curriculum Committee’s EL subcommittee approved 12 non-credit activities and one course for the EL degree requirement. These activities, ranging from internships and leadership roles to global service and volunteering opportunities, cater to a variety of majors. Furthermore, 50 students participated in the Experiential Learning Internship Program, gaining critical skills and competencies across diverse industries, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Scholarships for Experiential Learning

A record-breaking 217 students received Experiential Learning scholarships this semester, with over $730,000 awarded to support a total of 303 students during the academic year. Notably, 21 Connect Abroad participants received funds from Georgia Women Give, a women-directed fundraising group launched in March 2023. Their contributions enabled many students to participate in our inaugural Spring Break programs. We are proud that Georgia Women Give selected Connect Abroad as the first beneficiary of their campus priority fund.

Engaging the Field of Experiential Education

This semester, OEL staff actively participated in conferences and professional development events to establish UGA as a thought leader in experiential education. Director Andrew Potter presented at the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU) annual conference and Huber’s Vision 150. He also led a webinar on micro-internships for the Georgia Association of Colleges and Employers (GACE) and served as a panelist on experiential education and access for the Chronicle of Higher Education. Amy Sweet and Annelise Norman represented OEL at the GACE annual conference, co-presenting on tech-driven efficiency in higher education and facilitating the Experiential Learning Summit, which included a panel of experts and a design sprint that focused on AI and career development.

Our Commitment to Excellence

This semester, we reaped the benefits of the tools and platforms implemented in the fall, increasing our efficiency and expanding our scholarship programming. We reached over 1,000 students with our improved application and scholarship management processes.

During the Spring semester, our team's commitment to professional development was exemplified by Kay Stanton and Amy Sweet. Kay was named a Leadership Fellow in the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education (GAWHE), receiving individualized coaching and leadership training. Amy completed modules in the GACE Leadership Institute, enhancing her leadership skills and preparing her for her role as the incoming secretary of GACE.

As our undergraduate community continues to expand and develop, the Office of University Experiential Learning is committed to evolving alongside it to meet its dynamic needs. We are dedicated to broadening our programs, creating innovative work-integrated learning opportunities, and ensuring that students have access to impactful experiential education.

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.