experience - University of New Haven

University of New Haven
Experiential Education
exper ience
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exper ience
Life is a Trip . . .
Immersion
through internships and
work-integrated learning
UNH president
REceives top honor
Take it!
I
Fulfillment
through academic
service-learning
Learning through
faculty-mentored
undergraduate research
E
Experience
the world through
study abroad
A Message from the President
As our tagline suggests, the University of New Haven has earned
a national reputation as “a leader in experiential education.” We
believe that students learn best by gaining hands-on experience
related to their classroom studies.
Often, I am asked if this connection between classroom and
experiential learning extends to the humanities, especially those
disciplines — such as English and the arts — for which this nexus
is not naturally evident. To this, I emphatically reply yes.
My own educational background is in comparative literature and,
more broadly, the liberal arts. I have taught Shakespeare, poetry
and world literature, and have served as both a dean of an arts and
humanities and an arts and sciences college. I am well-acquainted
with the ivory tower, the life of the mind and academic research
pursued merely for its own sake. That, however, has become
an antiquated model of higher education and not what today’s
students seek or employers value.
As this brochure illustrates, studying anything from English to
Engineering can be practical, hands-on, engaging and careerfocused, while maintaining strict academic rigor.
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This applies to every other program at the University of New
Haven as well. We take pride in offering students experiential
education opportunities in all majors, in all colleges. Our results
speak for themselves in the form of well-educated graduates
who have used their knowledge and skills to fashion successful
careers across a wide range of professional pursuits.
University of New Haven President Steven H. Kaplan was awarded the
William M. Burke Presidential Award for Experiential Education by the National Society
for Experiential Education (NSEE) at its recent conference in Dallas, Texas.
The award, the top honor given by the society, memorializes
the late William Burke, founding president of the Washington
Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Burke
established the center in 1975 with the dream of providing
college students from the U.S. and around the globe access
to academic internships in Washington D.C.
In nominating Kaplan for the prestigious award, UNH
Associate Vice President for Retention L. Christie Boronico
and UNH Associate Provost for International and Experiential
Learning Jeremy Geller credited the president with supporting
a university-wide infrastructure for developing, monitoring
and evaluating experiential learning opportunities.
“Dr. Kaplan was nominated for this award because of his
vision and goal to enhance the academic experience of UNH
students by creating and updating a strategic plan for
experiential learning,” James Walters, president of the NSEE,
said. “Dr. Kaplan enhanced the academic experience of
students through faculty-mentored undergraduate research,
immersion through work-integrated learning, academic
service learning, study abroad, and career services. UNH
also created an honor society for experiential learning, which
has become a model for other universities.”
“Dr. Kaplan established the Center for Experiential Education at
UNH soon after he arrived on campus and has helped it expand
into one of the most influential centers in the Northeast,” said
Judith Greiman, president of the Connecticut Conference of
Independent Colleges, who endorsed Kaplan’s nomination.
“In establishing the partnership on the campus of the University
of New Haven, which trains faculty and staff from interested
universities, Dr. Kaplan enabled his institution to provide a
service to universities throughout the Northeast region...
empowering a great number of learners to embrace the skills
and knowledge needed for success programs on their own
campuses,” she said.
The award was presented at the 40th annual conference of the
NSEE on Oct. 21, 2011. NSEE was founded in 1971 to provide
a resource center for the development and improvement of
experiential education programs nationwide.
This new model resonates well with students and their families
and is a primary reason why our enrollments have increased so
dramatically in recent years while many private universities have
struggled to fill their classrooms. We are rightfully proud of the
reputation we have earned in this regard, and we will strive to
remain at the forefront of the experiential education movement.
It is, after all, what we do best.
With warm wishes,
Steven H. Kaplan
President
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What is
experiential education?
Through experiential education, UNH engages its students and faculty in discovery-based
learning across the curriculum to expand intellectual curiosity, enhance personal growth,
and advance professional development.
Our Mission
Experiential Education supports the mission of the University of New Haven
by encouraging experiences that contribute to career awareness, skills development,
practical, curriculum-based training and education, societal interaction, and
engagement guided by academic standards and a familiarity with real-world
challenges and how to deal with them. These experiences include opportunities for
learning through faculty-mentored undergraduate research, immersion through
work-integrated learning, fulfillment through academic service-learning, and
allowing our students to experience the world through study abroad.
society for experiential education
The University of New Haven launched the Society for
Experiential Education (SEE), an honor society to recognize
students who have completed two or more experiential
opportunities during their academic program while maintaining
outstanding academic achievement that places them within the
top twenty percent of their graduating class. The Society also
inducts UNH faculty and staff who have successfully completed
the NSEE Experiential Education Academy certification.
Program Initiatives
..Act as a repository of opportunities in relation to the four areas
of engagement for “L.I.F.E.” and Career Services
.. Process student applications for various engagements
.. Identify and solicit sponsors and partners for opportunities in
relation to the four areas of engagement
.. Collect and maintain data and information on various programs
and participants
.. Engage in regular assessment of programs and ensure commitment
to continuous improvement practices
..Assemble and maintain advisory boards for each program
.. Promote the talent and services of faculty and staff members
.. Promote professional development activities among its constituencies
.. Promote networking and the building of relationships
.. Respond to inquiries and suggestions for improvement
.. Create enthusiasm for research
.. Encourage experience in the workplace
.. Stimulate community engagement
.. Promote cultural and global understanding
.. Encourage and support experiential opportunities which
prepare students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in
a global society
the UNH Model
The University of New Haven has a tradition of valuing a balanced theory-andpractice approach to education. Continuing this tradition, UNH has embarked on
a new paradigm in experiential education. The goal is to promote greater levels
of student learning across majors by supplementing academic requirements with
practical, real-life engagement, firsthand observation, and learning through discovery.
The purpose of The Society for
Experiential Education (SEE)…
National Society for Experiential
Education (NSEE)
UNH partners with National
Society for Experiential Education
Congratulatory Message
from the National Society
for Experiential Education
The mission of the NSEE is to foster the effective use of experience as an integral part of education in order to empower
learners and promote the common good. The goals of the
organization are to:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Society for
..Advocate for the use of experiential learning throughout
congratulations on the ongoing success of your strategic plan
the educational system and the larger community
.. Disseminate information on principles of good
practice and innovations in the field
.. Enhance the professional growth and leadership
development of our members
.. Encourage the development and dissemination of
Experiential Education, I am delighted to express our enthusiastic
initiatives with regard to experiential education. NSEE is proud
of our strategic partnership with the University of New Haven as,
together, we work to accomplish your strategic goal of becoming
a leader in experiential education.
Sincerely,
research and theory related to experiential learning
Please visit www.nsee.org for more information.
Albert C. Cabral, President
NSEE Board of Directors
Students participating in experiential learning at
Jeffrey’s Fusion Restaurant on campus and in the
UNH Dental Center.
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exper ience
exper ience
I
Learning
Immersion
through internships &
cooperative education
through faculty-mentored
undergraduate research
One element of the UNH focus on experiential education is FacultyMentored Undergraduate Research. Research is any serious,
significant inquiry or investigation that makes an original, intellectual, or
creative contribution to a branch of learning. This can include scientific,
scholarly, or artistic activities. Research performed under this program is
expected to be a major undertaking of time and effort by both the student
and the faculty mentor.
Principles into Practice
Students work with a selected faculty mentor through courses in independent
study, laboratory research, and/or thesis. The research program concludes with
an undergraduate thesis or major presentation as approved by the student’s
research mentor. Undergraduate research provides an excellent structure for
the interaction of a mentor with a student and an important opportunity to put
into practice the principles of experiential education.
Dr. Amir Esmailpour assists students with a research
project to design and implement a telecommunication network architecture of an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) in a lab environment
“Research is an opportunity to boldly go
where no one has gone before. I have
found that researching with students
provides an opportunity to increase
awareness of the importance of their
classroom endeavors. Once students
have participated in research in their area
of interest, they appreciate what they are
learning in the classroom all the more.”
— Dr. Pauline Schwartz, Chemistry
Students serving customers at the Hazell Nut
Café, our student-run coffee shop sponsored by the
College of Business.
“I knew within the first week of being in
such an exciting atmosphere that this is
what I wanted my future career to embody.”
“This internship gave me confidence in
myself in a new way. It helped me prove
that I will be prepared to handle any task
thrown my way. It proved that my
professional skills are noticed and that I am
now looked upon as a responsible person.”
— Amber Tolifero, Student
The internship experience supports students engaging in supervised
work related to their major or career goal. The work-integrated experience may
be part time or full time, paid or unpaid, and may or may not be for academic
credit. The internship will most likely take place off campus, although some
opportunities exist on campus for degree-related work experience.
The Experience
What distinguishes an internship from a short-term job or volunteer work?
Internships tend to include a self-directed learning strategy; reflection, both
oral and written; a regular performance evaluation; and an emphasis on
professional development. By taking advantage of one or more internship
opportunities, students can sharpen their skills, build a network of meaningful
employer contacts, assess their strengths, and test in a real-world setting
what they’re learning in the classroom.
UNH students have performed an array of internships near home and around
the globe, in a multitude of fields and functions.
Amber Tolifero is a communication major who
interned at WTNH, News 8 in New Haven.
Professor Carmela Cuomo assists a student working on
a faculty-mentored undergraduate research project.
Professor Chris Martinez assists students working on
a Modular Sensor Platform for a Military Quadrotor
UAV research project.
Over the past 5 years, UNH students have interned
at such companies and organizations as:
ABC
Aetna
BET
Central
Intelligence
Agency (CIA)
CNN
Columbia
Records
Department of
Environmental
Protection (DEP)
Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA)
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Federal Bureau
of Investigation
(FBI)
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency (FEMA)
Major League
Baseball (MLB)
Mystic Marine
Life Aquarium
NBC
FOX
Pfizer
General
Electric (GE)
Sea World
General Dynamics
United
Technologies
Homeland
Security
Sony BMG
IBM
US Marshal’s
Office
Royal Bank
of Scotland
Walt Disney
World
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exper ience
E
Fulfillment
community engagement. Students, faculty, and staff work in partnership with
community organizations within the Greater New Haven region and beyond
for the purpose of exchanging knowledge and resources to strengthen our
global society.
Professor Teal Mercer traveled with five dental
hygiene students to the Los Fuentes Dental Clinic
and the Clinica Esperanza in Honduras, providing
care to almost 200 patients.
Students enroll in academic service-learning courses as a means of gaining a
deeper understanding of course content while making a positive contribution
to their community. As part of their coursework, students participate in
structured reflection activities that enhance how their experience connects
with their academic course.
Undergraduate students of the May 2008 summer
class in Chinese Economics and Business with
Professor Ben Judd and Practioner-in-Residence
Chien Wen Yu, visiting Su Dongpo Memorial in
Hangzhou, China. The nine students attended
morning lectures, visited ten corporations, met
with marketing executives from each company, and
were required to write a final paper on the trip
for course credit.
“Recently, I was lucky enough to have the
opportunity to visit China for educational
purposes. Those two weeks in China
deeply impacted my life in more ways than
one. Not only did I learn about Chinese
culture, history, their education system,
the economy, and business infrastructure,
but I made many friends with whom I still
keep in contact.”
The Academic Service-Learning Office provides the framework for students
to become socially responsible through the following civic learning objectives:
leadership, social responsibility, cognitive examination, learning about self
and others, and community engagement.
Community Service Experiences
Examples of programs that transform community service experiences into
meaningful learning opportunities include the Mothers Against Drunk
Driving (MADD) Court Monitoring Program, the UNH-Common Ground
High School partnership, and our dental hygiene outreach programs.
A World of Options
The Study Abroad/Study Away program provides academic opportunities for students to develop an intercultural understanding necessary
for meaningful interaction with people from various cultures, leading to
productive and successful contributions to the global community.
UNH students satisfy the STUDY ABROAD/Study AWAY element through
faculty-identified international tracks, international internships, international
service learning, international short-term or summer programs, facultyled international, local, and national programs, or the Freshman Semester
Abroad Program.
New Satellite Campus in Italy
Beginning in the fall of 2012, UNH students now have the opportunity to study
at our new satellite campus in Tuscany, Italy at nearly the same cost of attendance as our main campus in West Haven, Connecticut. The only additional
cost to students will be airfare. This is the University’s first solely operated
international campus and will provide an exceptional experience for students to
immerse themselves in the culture and language of a European country.
— Ashish Upadhyaya, Student
Professor David Perry and his two-week intensive abroad class that studied WWII history in France.
Students in a victimology class work with MADD to improve our judicial
system by advocating for swift and appropriate justice for DWI cases.
Students attend DWI misdemeanor court proceedings and collect information
to hold criminal courts accountable for treatment of drunk driving perpetrators.
The UNH-Common Ground High School partnership includes college
students mentoring high school students through two courses: Instrumental
Methods of Analysis Lab and Juvenile Justice. In the Instrumental Methods
course, UNH students share their chemistry knowledge and resources with
Common Ground students as a group, whereas Juvenile Justice students
provide one-on-one assistance with class projects and activities.
Experience
the world through
study abroad/study away
through academic
service-learning
Academic service-learning fosters social responsibility and promotes
exper ience
UNH students waiting at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to depart for the
Freshman Semester Abroad Program in Florence, Italy
with Professor Bill Adams.
Students participating in an alternative spring break
experience with Habitat For Humanity.
Our dental hygiene students learn through service as close to home as the New
Haven Head Start Program and as far away as South Dakota, Honduras, and
Romania. Regardless of the location, UNH dental hygiene students educate
and serve uninsured and underserved populations in a variety of settings.
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A guide to
student career planning
The Career Development
Center offers the
following workshops:
alumni profile:
CHRIS BROWN ‘00
B.S. Management of
sports industries
Students work to build their resumes starting in their Freshman year. It is never too early to reach
out to the Career Development Center.
DIRECTOR, GUEST EXPERIENCE
Career planning is a PROCESS that begins when you enter college and continues
throughout your life. Here is a guide to help you get started!
Resume Writing — This session reviews the basic construction of a
resume. Participants will draft a resume and send an electronic copy to the
Career Development Center.
Interview Skills — This session reviews successful techniques of
FRESHMAN YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR
.. Talk with faculty about career options in your major
.. Create your resume
.. Meet with success coaches in the First Year Student
.. Pursue internship and co-op opportunities
.. Update your resume
.. Participate in job shadowing or informational
Success Center
.. Attend Career Development workshops and seminars
.. Start your Student Success Plan file
SOPHOMORE YEAR
.. Continue to explore relationships between self-assessment
and career information
.. Update your resume
.. Gain relevant experience through summer employment
and internships
.. Take part in community service and student leadership
opportunities
.. Attend Career Development workshops and seminars
on resume writing
.. Visit the Career Development Center with your resume
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interview opportunities
.. Attend Career Development workshops and seminars
.. Research admission requirements for graduate school
.. Review interview skills and networking opportunities
SENIOR YEAR
.. Start your job search
.. Update your resume
.. Participate in mock interviews
.. Network with alumni and others
.. Collect letters of reference for your credential file
.. Attend Career Development workshops and seminars
.. Visit the Career Development Center to submit your
exit survey
interviewing. Participants are introduced to the Perfect Interview System and
will make an appointment for a video session.
NEW YORK METS
Flushing, NY
“When I attended UNH in the late ’90s,
internships were not a part of the standard
curriculum as they are today. My depart-
Cover Letters & Correspondence — This session informs students
mental advisors strongly encouraged me
of the importance and correct format of cover letters and thank-you letters.
to spend my summer/winter breaks taking
Technology — This session informs students how today’s technology
part in internships in order to build my
influences the hiring process.
resume and, eventually, stand out from
Networking/Mentoring Etiquette — This session reviews the
other recent college graduates. The small
skills of effective networking and provides information about our mentoring
program.
class sizes at UNH allowed me to become
Additional services:
Resume Assistance — Receive individual assistance with resume development by contacting the Career Development Center at [email protected]
or stop in at the Bartels Student Activity Center.
familiar with my professors, which in turn
made them much more approachable.
The advice I received from these advisors
and professors gave me the confidence to
achieve my career goals.”
Job Postings — Employers can post openings with the Career
Development Center by sending announcements to [email protected].
Students can access full-time and part-time openings on Blackboard. The
Interview Skills session can help you prepare for upcoming job interviews.
To schedule a mock interview, call 203.932.7342, email [email protected],
or visit us in the Bartels Student Activity Center.
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U.S. News &
World Report.
A leader in Experiential
Education, the University
of New Haven has been
recognized as a top-tier
regional University by
The Best
of the Best
®
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516
203.932.7319
www.newhaven.edu
Office of Undergraduate
Admissions