Experiential Learning at the University of Georgia empowers every student to apply their learning in real-world contexts, equipping them with the competencies and expanded perspectives to thrive in the emerging, dynamic global society.
The Office of University Experiential Learning supports the University of Georgia Strategic Priority 1.1: “Expand Experiential Learning opportunities for all students” through the following KPIs:
KPIs:
- Increase the number of approved experiential learning opportunities available to students to >3000 by FY2025; enabling the increase of the percentage of undergraduate students completing two or more approved experiential learning opportunities from ~40% to >55% by FY2025
- Expand and accelerate the “EL@UGA brand/reputation” at the regional and national levels by FY2025
- Expand undergraduate equity and access to all approved experiential learning opportunities (including service-learning, internships, study away etc.) through the launch of a formal experiential learning “direct gift menu” by FY2021 resulting in annual gifts >$500k by FY2023 and growing the EL Endowed Fund to >$3MM by FY2025.
Baseline measure for each KPI:
- EL Portfolio of Approved Experiences and Completion: ~2,649* Transcript-eligible courses and non-credit activities have been approved through FY24 inclusive of 36 courses and 24 non-credit activities added in FY24. (*Not inclusive of all global courses as those are not added at the catalog level). 5,377 Students representing 69.44% of the FY24 Undergraduate Graduating Cohort completed two or more Transcript-eligible EL opportunities (FY24 Graduating Cohort n = 7,743).
- Thought Leadership: The Office of University Experiential Learning presented at 4 state and national events.
- Access: OEL awarded $728,827 to students pursuing EL Opportunities and grew its future fund impact by establishing nine new fund agreements value at ~$900k.
Goal or targets (for each KPI):
See KPIs above
Time period/duration
All KPIs currently mature in 2025.
Signature Achievement:
Innovating Global Experiences for First Years: In Spring of 2024, OEL led the creation and launch of EL Connect Abroad--a new series of global experiences designed for first year students. In its pilot year, the program enabled 109 students to explore one of four foreign countries while building relationships with faculty, staff and peers.
FY24 Quantitative Highlights:
During the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
- 2,649 transcript-eligible EL opportunities available to students
- 30,803 transcript-eligible EL opportunities were successfully completed
- 69.44% of the FY24 undergraduate graduating cohort completed two or more EL opportunities
- $728,827 was awarded to 302 students to support their participation in EL opportunities
FY24 Qualitative Highlights:
- Expanding EL Opportunities: OEL added 60 new approved opportunities inclusive of a focus on expanding approved opportunities for underclassmen (+33). Additionally, OEL secured 63 new industry partnerships in FY24 with entities like Deloitte LLP, Synovus Bank, Caterpillar, and Boehringer Ingelheim; significantly expanding work integrated learning opportunities for the third year in a row.
- Increasing Access: In addition to a new record of EL Scholarship Awarding in FY24, OEL grew its future fund impact in collaboration with DAR by establishing nine new fund agreements valued at ~$900k in additional, future endowed funds.
- Projecting Thought Leadership: OEL presented at several state and national events including the GA Association of Colleges & Employers Annual Conference; the UERU Annual Conference; SACSCOC Annual Conference; and the Society for Experiential Education Annual Conference. Additionally, team members were accepted into the GA Association of Women in Higher Education Leadership Fellows Program and appointed to the Board of Directors for the GA Association of Colleges and Employers.
- Preparing the Next Generation of Innovators: Through the Student Industry Fellows Program, Student Innovation Fellows completed 14 industry projects including Schréder, Hatched, OTR Solutions, Chick-Fil-A, Cox Enterprises, Southwire, Augusta National Golf Club, Farmers Home Furniture and Sunnyland Farms among others. Four Innovation Fellows were selected into the 2023-2024 cohort of the Stanford University Innovation Fellows Program.
- Connecting with Stakeholders: The comprehensive content strategy resulted in a 230% increase in engagement, a 38% increase in reach and a growth in Instagram followers from 4,170 to >4,750. The OEL LinkedIn follower volume grew 30% YOY and the SIFP LinkedIn follower volume grew 273%. OEL website UX improvements enabled the site to reach 33,262 new users across 71,507 sessions including 134,116 page views (~20% YOY growth across all three categories). Lastly, the Office conducted in person workshops, trainings and outreach events attended by over 4,600 stakeholders.
Areas for Improvement:
- OEL Team Bandwidth: Team bandwidth was exceeded in FY24. Leading impacts included additional workflows related to EL Scholarship management and the launch of the new EL Connect Abroad programming.
- Assessment & Review: OEL needs to lead progress to identify potential options that will enable the launch of a periodic review process.
- Work Integrated Learning: While considerable progress occurred in FY24, OEL needs to continue to see itself as a “convener” and thought leader on campus to inform innovations in the standardization, centralization and scaling of work integrated learning across campus.
- Data: Data Management requires increased access / collaboration with OIR data warehouses and Helios capabilities.
ACES Integration: OEL needs to increase collaboration and communication around ACES integration and implementation to ensure launch of CLR capabilities in FY24.
For the 2024-2025 AY, the Office of University Experiential Learning has implemented an Operating Plan consisting of 8 objectives supported by 42 metric/time defined key results.
Directly relevant to the core above KPIs and the noted Potential Changes identified in the Office’s After Action Review, critical actions areas include:
- EL Portfolio of Approved Experiences and Completion: Increase >70 new approved opportunities with a focus on adding >40 new EL approved activities for underclassmen. Expand the EL Connect Abroad program for first year students to serve >150 students.
- Thought Leadership: Present at 4 professional events and engage with at least 5 external institutions.
Access: Distribute >$1MM through EL Scholarship and Fund Initiatives. Secure >$500k in new EL Fund agreements.
As noted above, primary challenges are essentially three:
- Technical Infrastructure
- Team Bandwidth
- Fund Expansion
Increasing automation and standardization with the operating procedures of the Office will directly impact 1 and 2 while our increasing collaboration with DAR will support 3.
