New Campuswide Web Portal to be Launched
as Site for Numerous Experience-Based Programs

Pat JaCoby | April 7, 2008

The need for a one-stop forum for UC San Diego students or staff to find experiential learning opportunities was answered with the launch of a campuswide web portal April 1.

The new site, established by the UCSD Campus Consortium of Experiential Learning Practitioners, will bring together a myriad of programs and projects that offer “learning by experience,” said Elise Tiregol-Pala, Academic Internship Program director.

The goal of the recently formed consortium, she said, was to create a forum to share ideas and best practices, raise awareness of experiential learning opportunities offered by various programs and departments throughout UC San Diego, and to collaborate on projects of mutual interest. Among members of the group are AIP, Career Services Center, the Academic Enrichment Program, Quest, Urban Studies and several undergraduate colleges.

Categories listed on the new Experiential web portal are:

• Curriculum boosts which includes academic internships, in-service internships, individual and group special studies courses, research assistantships and voluntary services projects;
• Fellowship/post grad opportunities which are temporary positions for recent college graduates and offer training such as Teach for America or the Peace Corps;
• International programs that offer work, internships, volunteer and educational opportunities around the world;
• Internships as a full-time or part-time temporary position with the purpose of learning while working;
• Service learning, a credit-bearing educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs;
• Community service/civic engagement that aims to mutually benefit the campus and the community through one-time, short term and long term projects.

Information may be obtained by contacting Tiregol-Pala at etiregol@ucsd.edu or www.experience.ucsd.edu.