A student intern hands their boss sitting down at a desk a blue binder. Text overlays read, "CEL Podcasts. Making College Worth It. Exploring the Value of Work-Integrated Learning."

Exploring the Value of Work-Integrated Learning 

Making College “Worth It”- Season 2, Episode 3 This episode covers the complexities of a work-integrated learning experience, including both the benefits and the challenges. With guests, Dr. CJ Fleming, an associate professor of psychology, and Annelise Weaver, a senior…

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Meaningful Undergraduate Experiences and How They Matter Now

The Center for Engaged Learning periodically conducts surveys on students’ experiences in higher education and their application to students’ post-graduation lives. Our latest iteration surveyed 956 U.S. residents who were 18-34 years old and graduates of two- or four-year higher…

Three students are talking around computers while a professor listens and smiles.

Cultivating Vulnerability in Mentoring Relationships

Recently, I co-facilitated an undergraduate workshop about intentionally building connections with supportive faculty, staff, and peer mentors. In alignment with principles from relational mentoring, we collectively acknowledged that embracing some personal vulnerability was crucial for building meaningful interpersonal connections (Johnson…

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What is a First-Year Experience?

60-Second SoTL – Episode 48 This episode highlights two articles that explore first-year experiences and what makes them high-impact: Barefoot, Betsy O. 2000. “The First-Year Experience: Are We Making It Any Better?” About Campus 4 (6): 12–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/108648220000400604.  Kuh, George, Ken…

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A Personal Reflection on What Makes Mentoring Great

I grew up on a mountainside in rural Appalachia and spent nearly every day of my childhood playing outside. Being from a low-income family and surrounded by the natural world, I entertained myself by exploring plants, animals, soil, water, and…