October 20, 2015
Yesterday, I attended the grand opening and formal announcement of the naming of our new Center for Experiential Learning on the first floor of Clarke Hall, just off the main lobby. As those of you in attendance at that event know, the new Center will be called “The Lighthouse: The Center for Exploration and Discovery.”
The Lighthouse will serve our students as a “one-stop
shop” for gaining access to the experiences needed to pave the way for success
in college and career. This Center houses three key programs on our campus: the
Career Development and Internship Program (CDIP), Study Away Program (SAP), and
Undergraduate Research Program (URP). All of these offices are now located under
one roof, in a central location on campus. Here, programs are offered (Pathways
to See Change) that helps students to plan for academic, personal, and
professional success in a systematic way. In addition, experiential learning grants, an
array of instructional workshops, and individualized support services for
students are all offered.
The Lighthouse programs support faculty, as well. Study away
course development grants, special event funds, assistance with transportation
to off-campus learning activities, and faculty development opportunities are
all a part of this Center. The new location offers a coffeehouse
atmosphere where members of the campus community can relax and engage in
stimulating dialogue with others, while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.
The signature program of Virginia Wesleyan's Quality
Enhancement Plan (QEP), See Change -- Sea Change, is supported by the services of this Center. The primary
objective of our QEP is to improve student engagement and learning by expanding
experiential learning opportunities. In addition, See Change -- Sea
Change aims to increase the number of students who participate in
internships, study away, and undergraduate research experiences.
The importance of a Center like this on our campus is
evident in the research. Educators widely acknowledge the links between
experiential learning and student engagement. As Janet Eyler (2009) summarizes,
“Experiential education can … lead to more powerful academic learning and help
students achieve intellectual goals commonly associated with liberal education,
including a deeper understanding of subject matter than is possible through
classroom study alone; the capacity for critical thinking and application of
knowledge in complex or ambiguous situations; [and] the ability to engage in
lifelong learning …” Experiential learning nurtures the essential
knowledge, skills, and values required of an engaged citizen. Our new Center
will do just that.
Kudos to Dr. Sara A. Sewell, Executive Director of
the newly named “Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and Discovery,” for her
leadership on this important project.
