University Life Faculty Flash: Experiential Learning—Let’s Collaborate!
April 8, 2015
This Faculty Flash is brought to you by the Division of University Life, your partner in educating and supporting Mason students. Our goal is to share valuable information and resources to help you in and out of the classroom.
Dear Colleague:
As you prepare your syllabi for the fall semester, please consider a number of opportunities for collaboration with University Life.
You may have seen the American Association of Colleges and Universities article about experiential learning that notes active learning processes help “students apply their classroom knowledge in ways that challenge them and integrate their academic experiences.” Mason’s Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence lists University Life as a campus partner whose resources enhance “students’ in- and out-of-class experiences…[and help] students achieve academically, stay healthy, get involved with campus life, find jobs, and identify resources to enrich their learning.”
University Life does this in a number of ways, and has resources to support you in developing co-curricular activities, from bringing in speakers supporting your curriculum to more intensive partnership opportunities between University Life offices and your department. Here are some examples:
- Funding for speakers and programs: more than $85,000 in grants available to increase faculty and student interaction outside the classroom
- Faculty Fellows Program: up to $4,000 in academic year stipend, course release, or programming dollars to enhance student learning and benefit the Mason community
- Workshops for your students on a variety of subjects, working in diverse teams to learning and study skills to career exploration
- Crisis intervention support, guidance, and referrals for handling student psychological issues
- Global Services: visa support for academic departments, language support, and other services for our students, faculty, and staff
- Academic Integrity information and resolution of conduct and honor code violations
- Information related to sexual assault, wellness, alcohol, and violence education
We also offer many planned events that may support your curriculum and welcome input and ideas for these events as well.
- LEAD’s Freedom and Learning Forum (October)
- Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education’s calendar of events (presented along with the Hispanic Latino Leadership Alliance) in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (mid-September through mid-October) and in November, National American Indian Heritage Month
- Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education and Services’ Turn Off the Violence (TOV) Weekevents include The Clothesline Project and Mason’s annual Take Back the Night rally (October).
Please visit University Life for other upcoming events and more information about programming to enhance your students’ learning.
For more information, please contact Amy Snyder at asnyder@gmu.edu or Alissa Karton at akarton@gmu.edu.
Good luck with the end of the semester and we look forward to working with you throughout the summer and fall.
Rose Pascarell
Vice President for University Life