Relevant Experience: A Conversation with Dr. Stephanie Crofton, Vice President for Experiential Learning and Career Development.

PositionEXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION - Interview

The circular lobby inside Cottrell Hall is what Dr. Stephanie Crofton, vice president for experiential learning and career development, calls the nexus of experiential learning.

Students can stand in the heart of the facility and, from any angle, see a multitude of opportunities created with their success and this Chinese Proverb in mind:

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

This is home to the Offices of Study Abroad, Career Development, Internship Services, Fellowship and Awards, Research and Creative Works, the Entrepreneurship Center, the Professional Sales Center, Student Success and more. They're easy to find behind transparent glass instead of conventional walls, beckoning students to walk in and connect.

With more than 20 years of experience as a professor and mentor, that's where Dr. Crofton and her team come in. She oversees each of these offices and programs that help students pave the path to the professional world.

Below, she discusses how the entire campus works to ensure students amass a lifetime of experiences in four short, impactful years.

Q: What does "experiential learning" mean at HPU?

A: Learning by doing. At HPU, this is woven into our culture.

It starts with the offices housed in Cottrell Hall, but there are many experiential learning opportunities across campus. Professors don't simply lecture; they get students involved in hands-on experiences. Student Life activities provide leadership, cultural and religious life events. There are service learning courses, community volunteer opportunities, students traveling to attend professional development conferences and the list goes on.

With every class at HPU, we ask ourselves, "What experiential learning concept can we provide to ensure students own this concept?"

We offer students a path to the real world, and we bring a lot of the real world into our classroom. Academic schools have advisory boards consisting of industry professionals such as alumni working in the field. Niche career fairs for majors like business, communication and education bring top companies directly to campus. It all illustrates our commitment to experiential learning.

Q: What outcomes is experiential learning producing for graduates?

A: The data speaks for itself: 95 percent of our graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.

Experiential learning takes students through the process of discovery. It helps them understand who...

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