Experiential Learning Student Orientation

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Experiential LearningStudent Orientation

• University Career Center for Work, Service, and
  Internships
• 150 Atkins Building
• The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• 704.687.2231
• www.career.uncc.edu

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How can the University Career Center help

• NinerJobNet (online job database)
• Individual Career Advising
• On-Campus Interviewing
• Mock Interview Day
• Mock Interviews (with advisor)
• Employer Information Sessions
• Career Technology and Assessment Tools
• Career Prospector (job-shadowing)
• Experiential Learning
• Drop-in advising
• Career Resource Library
• Workshops
• UNC in Washington Semester

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What is Experiential Learning (EL)?

• Experience-based learning EXPERIENTIAL Learning
• Opportunities to gain work experience
• prior to graduation.
• Full and part-time opportunities
• Paid or unpaid
• Hundreds of positions available each year at
  dozens of organizations across the area, state,
  country, and world!

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What are some of the benefits?

• Explore career interests and clarify future
  career goals
• Network with professionals in your field and
  identify potential mentors
• Obtain career-related experience
• Improve your post-graduation job prospects
• Incorporate classroom theories with applied
  learning experiences
• Improve essential job search skills like
  professional resume writing and interviewing
  techniques.
• Develop the marketable skills employer are
  looking for
• Earn recognition for your experience through
  transcript notation (or course credit)
• Develop professional references for your future
  career
• Increase self-confidence and knowledge of your
  interests, abilities, and values
• Gain experience through a program sanctioned by
  the university and supported on your behalf
  regarding safety, ethical practice, and quality
  assurance issues

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More benefits!

• Students participants reported
• improved academic performance
• significant increase in their success rate of
  obtaining an excellent career opportunity upon
  graduation
• 5,000-10,000 boost in initial salary offer when
  they had completed an Experiential Learning
  experience.
• In our Post-Graduate Survey, students who had an
  experiential learning experience reported better
  job satisfaction in their full-time position.
• Your success in the program depends on how
  proactive you are!!

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Types of Experiential Learning programs

• 49erships
• Service Learning 49erships
• Co-op
• Internships

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49erships

• A non-credit internship experience, with
  transcript notation lasting one semester and
  sponsored by the University Career Center.
• Fall and spring participation is part-time
  summer opportunities are either part-time or
  full-time.
• May be paid or unpaid opportunities, but the Fair
  Employment Act should be considered.
• Students are required to work 80 hours and five
  weeks

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49ership Eligibility Requirements

• Student must commit to work a minimum of 80 hours
  over 5 weeks in a given semester.
• Students must have a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA
  and full-time student status.
• Current undergraduate or graduate status and in
  good University standing.
• Students must have completed freshman-level
  courses.
• Transfer students must have completed 12
  undergraduate credit hours or 6 graduate credit
  hours at UNC Charlotte prior to application.

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Service Learning 49erships

• Similar to a 49ership, but in a non-profit or
  government agency enabling students to gain
  career related experience and contribute to
  addressing social issues
• Eligibility requirements are the same as 49erships

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Cooperative Education (Co-op)

• A career-related educational program to help
  students gain experience before they graduate.
• Available to students in the Colleges of Arts
  Sciences, Business Administration, and
  Engineering.
• A paid work experience in a professional setting.
  
• Students may work
• alternate full-time semesters (Sept.-Dec.,
  Jan.-May, May-Aug.) of work with full-time
  semesters of school
• two back-to-back full-time semesters of work
• parallel part-time semesters of work with
  part-time semesters of school. (Engineering,
  Engineering Technology and Computer Science
  students must participate on the alternate
  schedule only.)
• (Engineering students may earn 1 complete year
  towards their professional license.)

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Co-op Eligibility Requirements

• Student must be in good University standing.
• Students must have a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA
  and full-time student status.
• Students usually begin in their Junior year
  however, Engineering and Computer Science
  students begin during their Sophomore year.
• Transfer students must complete 12 credit hours
  at UNC Charlotte prior to co-op application.
• Students must commit 2-3 Alternating semesters
  3 Parallel semesters or 2 Back-to-Back
  semesters. (Students in the College of
  Engineering MUST commit to complete 3 alternating
  semesters Computer Science students need only 2
  alternating semesters.)

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Internships

• A career related work experience that provides
  students an opportunity to gain experience before
  they graduate while earning credit hours.
• Check with academic departments for availability
• Student Eligibility Requirements
• Students should check directly with their
  department.

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Sample job duties of an EL student

• Project Design, Implementation, Execution, and
  Management
• Administrative Support
• Attending planning meetings and/or meeting with
  clients
• Informational interviews
• Research, analysis, quality improvement
• Teamwork/interpersonal skills development
• Utilization and strengthening of technical skills
• Improvement of communication skills through
  presentations and creation of reports, manuals,
  etc.

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Success Stories

• Major French
• Employer North Carolina State Bureau of
  Investigation
• Job Description To learn how a state
  investigative agency functions.
• "My experience was not related to my major in any
  way. I chose this internship due to me skills
  and interests. I learned that Criminal Justice
  majors were not the only ones that are wanted in
  this field. I would encourage every student to
  participate. It is a very valuable program."

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More success stories

• Major Master of Science in Computer Science
• Employer Solectron Technology, Inc
• Job Description Support customers in various
  aspects including network administration,
  application support, operating system support,
  printer support and hardware support.
• "My work experience as an intern gave me the
  knowledge I needed to apply for and gain
  permanent employment. As a recruiter for my
  department, I can honestly say that experience
  means as much as a good GPA. Gain the experience
  today so you will be more marketable in the job
  force tomorrow."

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More Success Stories

• Experience Type49ership SuccessMajorAccou
  ntingEmployer The Painting Pros, LLC
• Patricia Adkins Student Quote On the job
  experience is the most important part of your
  learning. School shows you the tools but does not
  give the opportunity to apply these tools until
  you have on the job experience.
• Job DescriptionAssistant Accountant
  Intern-Assist with accounts payable and
  receivable, correspond with clients to follow-up
  on invoices, learn about payroll for a small
  business (100 employees), enter journal entries
  and gain exposure to QuickBooks.

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More success stories

• Experience Type49ership SuccessMajorInterna
  tional BusinessEmployer Tekmatex, Inc.Akiko
  Itokazu Student Quote I believe that an
  internship/49ership is important because it
  allows students an opportunity to apply what they
  have learned in the classroom to actual business
  situations. As a part of my internship with
  Tekmatex, Inc., I have improved my teamwork,
  organization and communication skills. I have
  also experienced first hand the importance of
  cross-cultural communication skills in a global
  business setting as well as differences between
  how business is conducted in Japan versus the
  United States. These experiences have been
  invaluable to me in preparation for my future
  career goals.
• Job DescriptionIntern-Assisting with
  translations, accounts and planning business
  meetings/events

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What is transcript notation?

• Students who successfully complete all
  requirements in any Experiential Learning program
  receive a notation on their transcript
• Benefits of transcript notation
• Official recognition by the University
• As the job search gets more competitive,
  companies are doing research beyond the resume
  and are requesting official university documents
  that have proof of working experience
• Professional associations and licensing agencies
  may ask for your transcript and they would be
  able to see that you had a university-recognized
  work experience
• Some companies have begin requiring students to
  inquire about their internship programs as
  sanctioned by the university

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Responsibilities and requirements

• Students must abide the following in order to
  participate in the EL program
• Meet minimum requirements respective to each
  program
• Complete appropriate paperwork throughout entire
  work session
• Thorough understanding of Experiential Learning
  Handbook, located on website under Experiential
  Learning
• Agreement to Statement of Ethical Conduct
  (located on EL application and in Handbook)

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Learning Objectives
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How do I get started?

• Meet with your Career Advisor
• Prepare job search tools (resume, cover letter,
  etc.)
• Access NinerJobNet
• Apply to Experiential Learning Program
• Search for opportunities and possibly interview!
• Positions can be found through UCC or on your own
• Required to inform UCC of work experience

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Tips for success!

• Utilize all sources to find an opportunity
• Consult academic advisor to determine effects on
  academic schedule
• Refine your interviewing skills (attend
  workshops, ask for a Mock Interview with Career
  Advisor)
• Ethics in the Job Search (applying for and
  accepting offers)

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Forms
Additional forms required depending on student
citizenship status

• 49erships
• EL Application
• Employment Confirmation
• Learning Objectives
• Evaluation
• Co-ops
• EL Application
• Faculty Advisor Approval
• Evaluation

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Questions?

• Drop-In Hours
• Monday and Friday 10am-2pm
• Wednesday and Thursday 1130am-330pm
• Tuesday 9am-2pm and 5-6pm
• Appointments w/ Career Advisors
• Available every weekday, call to schedule
• Website
• www.career.uncc.edu