Experiential Learning

The Experiential Learning Business Career Development Program (ELBCDP) is a mandatory program designed for sophomores to enhance and develop student’s non-academic skills in a work place environment. Students will gain valuable insight and reinforce theories and concepts explored in MGT 1100 Career Planning- PD I and MGT 2100 Business Protocol-PD II.

The program will focus on the non-academic skills employers seek in a potential career candidate. For many employers, relevant work experience gained through part-time jobs, volunteer experiences, internships, or other opportunities are critical factors in making hiring decisions. The key for the employer is that the experience serves as “proof” that the students can perform a task. The non-academic skills employers seek according to Job Choices: Diversity Edition 2008 are listed below.

• Communication skills (verbal and written)
• Honesty/integrity
• Interpersonal skills
• Motivation/initiative
• Strong work ethic
• Teamwork skills
• Computer skills
• Analytical skills
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Detail-oriented
• Organizational skills
• Leadership skills
• Self-confidence

When a student enrolls in the MGT 2100 Business Protocol PD II course, the student automatically becomes part of the program. The experience is designed to provide the students with an opportunity to gain practical skills for career development. The intent of the program is to assist students with clarifying career goals, developing marketable skills, and developing a network of contacts. To accomplish this, student must spend a minimum of 120 hours (over a 10-12 week period) working in an approved Experiential Learning site. The student must complete an Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP) containing his/her work project reporting on his/her practical experience (Reflection paper). The experiential learning site must be pre-approved and must take place in a work environment. The experience can be paid or unpaid. Paid practical experiences can not substitute for community service credit.

A student will be able to use full-time/part-time experience, approved university community services agencies, volunteer work, work study, job shadowing or other opportunities that will support and validate the non-academic skills listed above.

Types of Experiential Learning sites:

 

Full-time/Part-time jobs; If the student decides to use a full-time/part-time job, he/she will have to develop a “stretch” goal outside of his/her job description to use as a project in order to receive credit for the practical experience. “Stretch” Goal Example: If the student is a sales associate majoring in finance, then asking to shadow your manager the next time he/she conducts the closing/opening process of the business, then use the information to create a project/report on the process and discuss what other variables that could impact the goals and projections for the next fiscal year.

Community Service Agencies; The University has approved sites for community service agencies located on the www.nccu.edu web site. Once you are on the site click “Students link”, then click “Academic Community Service link”, then click “Departmental website link”, then “Students link”, then click “Find A Service Opportunity link” and approximately 777 practical experiences will appear. If you decide to use a community service agency, you must register and complete all documentation listed on the website and 15 of the 120 hours will be used as your community service hours for that semester. At the approved site, the students’ site supervisor may assign a project (e.g., develop a brochure about x, conduct a study/survey of y, write a report about z, etc.)

Volunteer work, Work study, or the Job shadowing; If a student decides to use one of these sites, a supervisor may assigned a project or a report based on need and activity of the site or the student may need to identify an appropriate project or report (e.g., research a topic related to the practical experience).

Testimonial

Carolyn Oakley

Management major
Shift manager for a fast food chain

Q. What did you like about the experiential learning assignment?
A. "I learned what to look for in employees and different ways to train new team members. I enjoyed having more responsibility and I highly recommend the experience for all NCCU business students."