Definition
“Engaged Learning” describes experiences in which students apply knowledge gained in educational settings beyond the classroom; delve further with independent scholarship and creative expression; broaden their horizons with study abroad or cross-cultural encounters; become problem solvers, team members and leaders in their communities; and prepare for professional and civic lives that make a difference. Rider's students are required to complete at least two high-impact Engaged Learning Experiences that reflect the University’s strategic themes of leadership, ethics and social responsibility, and global and multicultural perspectives. Students must reflect upon how the experience impacted themselves and others in a class assignment or by responding to reflective questions. The experiences students participate in will help them build bridges between their course of study and the world in which they live.
Requirements
All Rider University undergraduate students1 are required to earn a minimum of six points, spread across at least two Engaged Learning categories. The six categories of Engaged Learning are:
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Leadership and Mentoring
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Study Abroad and Cultural Exploration
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Guided Research and Scholarship
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Civic and Community Engagement
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Internship, Co-Op, and Field Work
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Arts, Media and Creativity
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Transfer students who bring 30 or fewer accepted credits to Rider and have Freshman status are required to earn six (6) Engaged Learning points which must be earned in two or more Engaged Learning categories. Transfer students who bring 31 or more accepted credits to Rider and have Sophomore, Junior, or Senior status are required to earn three (3) Engaged Learning points in any one or more categories.
Earning Points
Academic courses
After a student earns a passing grade in a course designated as Engaged Learning, they will earn points equal to the number of credits (up to a maximum of 3 points for any one course.) After grades are submitted at the end of each semester, the Registrar's Office applies earned points to the student record in DegreeWorks and on the Engaged Learning Transcript. See the Engaged Learning Program webpage for a complete list of approved Engaged Learning courses.
Experiences
When students engage in experiences that are not connected to academic courses, they are required to reflect on the experience independently by submitting answers to a series of questions found on the Engaged Learning webpage and the Engaged Learning Course page on Canvas. Instructions to access the Engaged Learning course page on Canvas, submission guidelines, and a list of many eligible experiences are found on the Engaged Learning Program website.
Designated faculty and staff review submitted experience reflections in Canvas. If not initially approved, students receive feedback on how to improve it. They may rewrite and resubmit the reflection until it is approved. When approved, Engaged Learning points are reported to the Registrar throughout each semester, to be applied to the student record in DegreeWorks and on the Engaged Learning Transcript. If an experience is not approved, students may appeal to their academic dean.
Contact
Ms. Sandra Ober ‘12
Engaged Learning Coordinator
Moore Library, Suite 120
609-896-5000 Ext. 7055
engagedlearning@rider.edu