Experiential Learning Fellows at Seton Hall University 2024-2025: Apply Soon!

The Office of the Provost and the Center for Faculty Development are pleased to announce the second annual Experiential Learning Fellows Program. The Experiential Learning Fellows at Seton Hall University program is a faculty development program that promotes the delivery of experiential learning at Seton Hall University. This two-semester workshop is curated to empower faculty members with the knowledge, skill, and strategy to produce high-impact experiential learning activities that align with the unique needs and goals of their respective schools or colleges. 

The pilot workshop that ran this past academic year provided faculty with an exciting chance to enhance their instructional repertoire while developing innovative programming within their respective academic units. The sessions were led by champions of experiential learning from a diverse range of areas, including the Career Center, DiploLab, Study Abroad, and the Center for Healthcare Simulation in the School of Health and Medical Sciences, among others. Participants benefited from a "think tank-style" forum where they could exchange techniques and strategies drawn from their own instructional practices.

Fellows in this cohort have successfully developed interdisciplinary projects across various programs and schools within the University, enhancing collaborative efforts while promoting the creation of evidence-based pedagogical approaches. When asked why he chose to participate in the program, James K Daly, Ed.D., Professor of Educational Studies shared, "I applied for the [program] to explore ways to provide better and more authentic field experiences for the teacher education candidates with whom I work. In education coursework, candidates explore theory and models designed to promote effective teaching and learning." Organic to the environment created in the Experiential Learning Fellows program, Daly engaged in a collaboration with colleagues Daniel Cymbala, Instructor of English of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Mark Schild, associate dean of the Stillman School of Business. They are now piloting a financial literacy community outreach program where students from these schools will work together to develop and deliver a curriculum to high school students in a nearby community. Mark Schild reflected on his experience in the program, "High-impact applied learning or experiential learning continues to grow in importance to create the best overall student experience. Through real examples, as well as academic research the Experiential Learning Fellowship gave us the foundations for starting new experiential learning courses, embedding experiential learning into existing courses, or simply making current experiential learning programming even better."

Join us this year!

Faculty representing all academic units are invited to apply for participation this upcoming year’s program. Sessions will focus on key topics and practical exercises driving development of individual experiential learning activities/projects and opportunities for practical application with individual experiential learning program development. Participants will further identify as leads in each of their respective units, prepared to propel development and elevate the quality and range of experiential learning activities available to students at Seton Hall University.

Fall Semester Sessions will be held in person on the following Wednesdays from 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. on the South Orange campus.

- September 18
- October 2
- October 23
- November 6
- November 20
- December 4

The Spring Semester will feature 30-minute individual monthly progress meetings with Caryn Grabowski, director of Experiential Learning and culminate in project presentations in a dedicated session at the 2024 Petersheim Exposition.

Upon completion of the workshop, faculty members will:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of experiential learning theory.
• Learn a variety of tools, techniques, and resources to design experiential learning activities.
•  Design and pilot an experiential learning activity supporting the needs and goals of their students, programs, and respective academic units.
• Implement methods for assessing student performance in experiential learning activities.

Eligibility:

• Full-time faculty members with a multi-year appointment that includes the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Faculty members must oversee a predetermined course or other student program in Winter or Spring 2025 to allow for project implementation.

Adjunct faculty may also participate in the program if they meet the requirements above and:

• Have at least 3 years of instructional commitment to the University.
• Have the approval of their department chair or program director.

Depending on funding and the number of applications, priority will be given to full-time faculty (10) with intended representation across all schools and colleges.

Participant Requirements:

• Attend a minimum of 5 seminar training sessions in Fall 2024
• Attend monthly meetings (30 min) with the Director of Experiential Learning in the spring semester (Jan-April 2025).
• Present their program project at a dedicated internal or external professional development/conference of their own selection (e.g. Center for Faculty Development, Petersheim Exposition, etc.)
• Produce a media/news story to be showcased in collaboration with university public relations.
• Produce an outcome report.

Participants will receive a stipend of $750 and designation as an Experiential Learning Fellow of the University.  The first portion of the stipend will be paid in December 2024 ($250), and the remainder upon successful completion of the project. Projects must be completed by May 2025 ($500).

Interested faculty should apply for the program by June 17, 2024, using this link.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the Experiential Learning Fellows Program by the Director of Experiential Learning in July.

Categories: Education