Experiential Learning

An opportunity for mutually beneficial partnerships between students and community partners. The University matches students’ personal and professional ambitions with appropriate partners to help meet community needs.

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Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact

The Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact offers three types of experiences:

• Community-engaged learning – (formerly known as service-learning) students participate in community engagement as part of their academic courses.
• Federal work study opportunities  are available on and off campus.
• Volunteering – experiences may be completed as one-time opportunities or a continual, committed opportunity throughout the year

Center for Community Solutions

The Center for Community Solutions offers community-engaged projects where students are paid to work 5-10 hours per week on a defined project in partnership with a community organization for a semester or academic year.

College of Business and Public Management

The College of Business and Public Management is often asked to provide consulting services. Students may be asked to participate in advising organizations on business practices as part of a course or internship.

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Community and professional engagement opportunities may be related to:

These opportunities vary in duration of time commitment, may be paid or unpaid, and are conducted in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format.  These opportunities offer students and community partners the potential to generate significant, positive impact in working together, ranging from local through international in scope.

In Pennsylvania, students who wish to participate in these opportunities are typically required to complete the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance.

Funding

Costs associated with community engagement opportunities may include travel, equipment, supplies, clothing, and food.

A one-day or multi-day event where people present their work to one another. Conferences provide an opportunity for people to come together to share experiences and expertise, analyze issues, and brainstorm solutions regarding specific topics. By doing so, the people involved are helping their field move forward.

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Conferences are offered at the local, regional, state, national and international levels. They may be provided remotely or in-person. Types of conferences include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Academic conferences
• Business conferences
• Conventions
• Peace conferences
• Product launches
• Trade conferences

Students can gather more information on upcoming conferences by contacting their academic advisors, faculty, department chairs, college deans, supervisors and student organizations. Sometimes there are opportunities to help with planning the conference.

Individuals or groups who wish to present on a topic at a conference should look on the conference website for the “call for proposals” timeline and criteria. It can be helpful to request examples of successful proposals before submitting a proposal. Some conferences require presenters to go through a peer review process prior to accepting their proposal. This involves members of the organization volunteering their time to review the proposed presentations and provide feedback. The goal of the peer review process is to help applicants create the strongest presentation possible.

Funding

Costs associated with conferences may include (but are not limited to) registration fees, transportation, lodging, meals, technology, and supplies. Merchandise, books and extra conference sessions may be available for purchase.

Conference fees are typically reduced for individuals who are members of the organization that is hosting the event. There may also be a discount for individuals who are part of the planning committee and/or groups of individuals who register for the conference together. Sometimes organizations offer conference scholarships. Funding support may also be available at the University through academic departments, colleges, and student organizations. Following the COVID-19 pandemic more conferences are being offered remotely.

Activities that people participate in which involve developing new ideas, artworks, and other forms of cultural production.

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Creative activities are often shared through student clubs and organizations. Each club and organization have its own requirements that participants must meet in order to participate in a creative activity. There are also opportunities to engage in creative activities through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

Examples of creative activities include:

• Acting, theatre, dance or voice workshops
• Creative writing
• Investigative interviewing
• Musical performances and compositions
• Painting and photography

Explore clubs and organizations via RamConnect by clicking on the “group” tab and typing in a key word (e.g., art or music). Sign up to become a member of organizations that are of interest to you. Don’t see a club or organization related to your interests? Email involvement@wcupa.edu to learn about the process for starting a new club or organization.

Funding

Costs associated with creative activities may include (but are not limited to) clothing, travel, equipment, books, supplies, and membership fees. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs offers funding opportunities for students to engage creative activities. Specific student clubs and organizations may also offer funding support. To explore student clubs and organizations, visit RamConnect.

Educational programs where students visit foreign countries, live there, and explore different cultures, often while earning academic course credit. Education abroad programs vary in their goals, requirements, duration, and living situations.

Get Involved

Types of education abroad programs include:

• Full degree abroad
• Semester programs
• Internship abroad
• Service learning
• Summer programs

All students planning to participate in an Education Abroad program (WCU faculty-led, affiliated partner program, Non-WCU/Non-affiliate) are required to complete the WCU application first. WCU’s Education Abroad website lists additional criteria for program eligibility.

Funding

Costs associated with education abroad vary based on the type of program, length, and geographic region. Costs for students participating in semester-long study abroad programs are generally comparable to expenses paid for a semester spent studying at WCU.  There is also a $100 application fee that must be paid to the WCU Bursar's Office.

The condition of paid work, usually in a person’s trade or profession, that is full time or part time for an open-ended period.

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Opportunities for student employment are available both on and off campus. Types of employment include full-time, part-time, seasonal, contract and temporary.

On campus, positions are often discussed in terms of paraprofessionals and student employees. Paraprofessional positions are responsible for supporting students' educational experience (e.g., Wellness Peer Educator, Graduate Assistant) while student employee positions are often related to helping manage the business of the University (e.g., Desk Attendant).

Graduate assistant positions are specifically for graduate students to work with a department or faculty member. These experiences may include teaching, conducting research, or working on programs or initiatives. Graduate assistants may receive a stipend, a tuition waiver, or both.

Off campus, positions are considered an internship or a job, and can be found on Handshake.  Off campus employment can be done for a variety of organizations, including start-ups, small businesses, large and multinational corporations, nonprofits, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and government agencies.

The Career Development Center's website offers a comprehensive set of resources and events to support students in choosing a major, finding jobs on and off campus, and getting started with building a career.

Funding

Costs associated with employment may include (but are not limited to) clothing, transportation, equipment, background checks, health exams, and food. Some positions on campus are set aside specifically for individuals who have received Pell Grants. Students who wish to apply for these positions should review their FAFSA award letter and speak with a financial aid counselor.

The process of setting up a new business or growing an existing business while taking on most of the risk and enjoying more of the rewards. Entrepreneurs identify an existing problem or need and develop a business to solve the problem or address the need.

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Students in business programs are commonly involved in entrepreneurship programs and organizations, but these opportunities are open to everyone and can be found both inside and outside of WCU.

Types of entrepreneurship include:

• Small business
• Scalable startup
• Large company
• Social entrepreneurship
• International entrepreneurship

Types of product development include:

• New-to-the-company
• Improvements to existing products
• Extensions of product lines
• New-to-the-market

The WCU Cottrell Center offers entrepreneurship programs and product development events. More information can be found on the Cottrell Center Programs page. Students can also explore entrepreneurial clubs and organizations in RamConnect.

Funding

Costs associated with entrepreneurship may include (but are not limited to) market research, concept feasibility testing, inventory, business registration fees, legal fees, incorporation fees, patent/copyright/trademark costs, travel, clothing and work space. The WCU Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center offers information about several funding opportunities.

The practical application of educational theories, concepts, and skills within a real setting. Students work with qualified field instructors who provide individual supervision and assessment of the student's knowledge and skills.

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Students are typically enrolled in field placements through their academic program. Reach out to your faculty or academic advisor to learn more.

Funding

Costs associated with field placements may include (but are not limited to) tuition, health exams, criminal background checks and transportation.

An opportunity for a student to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a degree or certification. These positions should be paid, however, if they are not, they must meet the testing standards provided by the US Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act.
Other frequently used terms or similar experiences include field experience, co-op, clinical experience, practicum, or student teaching.

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Internships typically range from three to six months and involve part-time to full-time hours, for which the student may or may not receive payment. Unlike traditional internships, micro-internships include projects which are completed in a shorter time frame ranging from five to 40 hours per week.

Internships may or may not be part of a student’s academic curriculum. For credit-bearing internships, requirements and procedures will vary by department. Generally, a student must be a major in the department, complete a certain course or number of courses prior to the internship, and commit to a specific number of internship hours. For non-credit-bearing internships, the requirements are determined by the employer; however, students are typically working towards a degree in the field in which they are seeking an internship.

As a first step, ask your academic advisor and faculty whether an internship is required for your major and if so, what is involved in the internship.

The Career Development Center offers several resources for finding internships. WCU's Experiential Learning Dashboard also provides information about where students’ have participated in internships in the past.

Funding

Costs associated with internships may include (but are not limited to) clothing, transportation, food, equipment, supplies, health exams, and background checks.

Students should ask whether the internship is paid during the interview, if the information wasn't included in the internship posting.

An opportunity for students to explore industries related to their interests and career goals by following and observing someone who is working in the field.

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Students can search for job shadowing opportunities with WCU alumni through Ram Nation. This online platform allows students to easily connect with alumni to set up both in-person and virtual times to engage in job shadowing. It can be helpful for students to have a resume and Ram Nation profile set up when reaching out to alumni. For more information about job shadowing opportunities, please visit Career Development Center Resources and Events page.

FUNDING

Costs associated with job shadowing may include, but are not limited to, transportation, clothing, technology, and food.

To support students in managing these costs, West Chester University offers free professional clothing in the Career Development Center in 225 Lawrence Hall and free food and supplies in the Resource Pantry in the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact located in 715 Commonwealth Hall.

An official university record that documents student learning in co-curricular programs.

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Students can participate in co-curricular programs related to:

• Academic engagement (e.g., New Student Orientation)
• Career readiness (e.g., Prepare for the Fair)
• Community engagement (e.g., Event Planning 101)
• Health and wellness (e.g., Nurturing Relationships)
• Involvement and leadership (e.g., Olympus Leadership Series)
• Social justice (e.g., Rams Step Up!)

To get started:

• Review programs listed in the Co-curricular Catalog
• Create a Co-curricular plan for participating in programs throughout your time at WCU
• Register for the programs (most can be found in RamConnect by using the #RamPlan Event Tag)
• Attend the program and pass the assessment related to the learning outcomes
• Download the Ram Plan Co-curricular Transcript
• Utilize the transcript in internship, job, graduate school, and scholarship applications and interviews

The Ram Plan FAQs provide information about how students can recommend a program for the transcript, choose programs based on their personal goals, and remove a program from their transcript. General information regarding the learning outcome assessment is also available in the FAQs.

Funding

There is no cost for students to download their Ram Plan Co-curricular transcript and most Ram Plan programs are available free of charge.

The exploration of a specific research topic by an individual who wishes to make an original contribution to the discipline. Students are typically mentored through research investigations by faculty or discipline-experts.

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The research process involves identifying a research question, conducting a literature review, creating a research proposal, collecting and analyzing data, and compiling and sharing the findings through poster presentations, conference presentations, and/or publications. If research involves human subjects, the research team is required to complete research training certifications and submit a research application to the Institutional Review Board.

Types of research opportunities include:

• Community-based research
• Domestic and international research programs
• Independent Research
• Research assistantship

WCU offers numerous opportunities to get involved in research:

• Review the WCU Undergraduate Research Journal
• Learn How to Get Involved in Research
• Study WCU's Research Training Requirements
• Complete CITI Training
• Learn about Submitting an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application
• Set Up a Cayuse Account for IRB Applications
• Apply for the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute
• Find Research Funding
• Apply for Student Research and Creative Activity Awards
• Meet with WCU's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

 

Funding

Costs associated with research may include (but are not limited to) marketing materials, participant incentives, travel, equipment, and supplies. Funding support and scholarship information can be found on the WCU Research and Sponsored Programs page. For graduate students, research may be incorporated into a graduate assistantship which would provide funding in the form of a stipend and/or tuition reimbursement.

A group of students who come together around a shared interest in a specific topic or goal and are recognized officially through the University.

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Student clubs and organizations exist at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Clubs and organizations are required to meet specific criteria in order to receive formal recognition through the University. Student clubs and organizations that are officially recognized by the University can reserve university space, and use West Chester University's name, and apply for funding.

Types of student organizations include the following:

• Academic/Professional organizations
• Fraternities/Sororities
• Governing organizations
• Graduate student organizations
• Musical organizations
• Political/Activism organizations
• Publication/Media organizations
• Religious organizations
• Service organizations
• Social Equity/Diversity
• Sports Clubs
• Special Interest organizations

Propose a new student club or organization by going through the Student Organization Review Process.

Funding

Although some clubs and organizations require a membership fee, most do not.