From Academic Internships to Applied Work-Based Learning Experiences: Expanding Opportunities for Experiential Learning through LeADERS

By Josie Momberger 

Since its inception in the fall of 2018, the LeADERS program has aimed to connect ODU undergraduate students to high-impact courses and other experiential learning that allow them to make the most of their time in college and prepare them for life after graduation, such as joining the workforce or applying to graduate school. The name “LeADERS” itself is an acronym for the skills and experiences that the University seeks to provide for its students before they leave the institution: Leadership, ePortfolio, Academic Internship, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research, and Service-Learning. These areas and their learning objectives were derived from the definition of high-impact practices, which are learning practices that promote “achievement of deep learning, significant engagement gains, and positive differential impact on historically underserved student populations” (Kuh, 2008).

Officially beginning in Fall 2023, the “A” in the LeADERS acronym will change from Academic Internships to Applied Work-Based Learning Experiences. This change emphasizes that there are broader experiential learning opportunities for students to develop professional skills than just through an internship. Students who complete the Applied Work-Based Learning Experiences area of the LeADERS program learn to:

• apply prior learning to new situations,
• use communication strategies and skills appropriate to settings, purposes, and audiences,  and
• conduct themselves according to appropriate professional standards, customs, and practices in the workplace.

This change aligns with the many benefits and outcomes enjoyed by students who join the LeADERS program. By taking the knowledge gained from already required major courses one step further and examining it through the lens of the LeADERS areas, students are able to gain employer-valued skills such as critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and intercultural skills. Some other perks that LeADERS students receive are VIP access to entrepreneurship, career, and ePortfolio services and resources, as well as invitations to networking opportunities and advising sessions. These opportunities empower students to reflect on and articulate their collegiate experiences beyond the classroom as well as increase students’ marketability to both potential employers and graduate programs.

One result of this change is that students with on-campus jobs here at ODU will now be eligible to earn LeADERS “A” credit should they choose to accept their admission to the program. Students would then reflect on their on-campus job as part of the final ePortfolio that is required to graduate from the program, allowing them to identify tangible, job-specific skills that they have mastered during their time as a student employee and how they will apply those skills post-graduation. In this way, students are guided through articulating how their on-campus employment provided them with the experience needed to succeed beyond campus.

Another goal for this change is to continue to form working relationships with our campus partners in Student Engagement & Enrollment Services, as that is where the majority of student employees are housed. Some areas we hope to target with this initiative include Housing & Residence Life, Student Engagement & Traditions, and the Student Government Association.

Students who are interested in joining the LeADERS program and/or exploring this option should contact leaders@odu.edu.

Faculty or staff who are interested in learning more should visit https://ww1.odu.edu/facultystaff/teaching/leaders.