CAREER CORNER

What's in a name: Clarifying the goal of the Experience program

Since 1974, UMass Dartmouth has offered students an opportunity to earn academic credit for the practical application of their academic training.    Initially, the program created was named the "Contract Learning Program" and was administered through the Associate Dean of Students. It was named "contract learning" due to contractual requirements; i.e. students were required to have a signed contract between the outside agency/supervisor and a faculty sponsor who would monitor the student's progress and award credit if the student fulfilled the contract. Since much of the contract learning related to career development, in 1995, the administration of the program was transfered to the Career Resource Center and was renamed the "Experiential Learning" program. John Dewey, the "father" of experiential learning, penned the term "experiential learning" in the early 20th century. It has been an umbrella term that career development professionals have used widely to refer to out-of-the-classroom experience, including internships, practicum, volunteerism, etc.

Although it is a useful term to professional in this field, to students, faculty and employers it is unclear and confusing. Most often, we explain "experiential learning" as an internship or simply "experience".     Therefore, to clarify and to better promote the program to students, faculty and employers the Experiential Learning program will be changed to the "Experiece" program effective in Fall 2006. The Career Resource Center would continue to admin-ister the program and work as a clearinghouse to assist students and faculty in creating more internship opportunities with interested employers. Faculty would continue to oversee and monitor the students' progress and determine academic credit. Over all, it is evident that the CRC places profound emphasis on the idea that students at UMass Dartmouth acquire as much experience as possible, so they may be ready for life after graduation.

Dr. Gail Berman-Martin
Director of Career Resource Center