Elizabethtown College recently marked 10 years of guaranteeing high-impact Signature Learning Experiences (SLEs), a distinctive educational model that connects every student with transformative real-world learning opportunities, with the graduation of the Class of 2026.

SLE’s were initially developed as part of the College’s five-year strategic plan in 2012 to address the goal of creating an educational program aimed at increasing real-world learning practices. The initiative was headed by Professor of Political Science Emeritus and former Dean of Faculty Fletcher McClellan, former Dean of Students Marianne Calenda, and current Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider, who formerly served as Associate Provost and Associate Academic Dean.

“I am very pleased that SLE’s have evolved to become a distinctive feature of an Elizabethtown College education,” McClellan said. “They help to facilitate a strong emphasis on learning by doing.”

Approved by faculty in late April 2013, SLEs were officially implemented into the College’s course requirements during the 2013-14 academic year, making the Class of 2017 the first cohort to enter under the SLE curricula.

Connected to a national movement in higher education to promote student engagement through “high-impact practices” (HIPs), the approach was backed by educational research that showed HIPs develop integrated learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, along with empathy and intercultural competence.

Since their implementation, SLEs have become a significant part of Etown’s curriculum.

Students at Etown have the opportunity to transform their courses into demonstrated, guaranteed real-world action by participating in at least two of the College’s five SLEs:

  • Internship, Practicum, or Field Placement: Students gain hands-on experience in a professional setting aligned with their major and career goals.
  • Supervised Research: Students work alongside a faculty mentor to explore, test, and bring their big ideas to life.
  • Capstone Course, Project, or Development Portfolio: Students showcase their growth and knowledge through a culminating project, publication, or performance.
  • Cross-Cultural Experience: Students can broaden their worldview through study abroad or domestic intercultural learning experiences.
  • Community-Based Learning: Students embody Etown’s Educate for Service motto by engaging in service that addresses local and global community needs.

In addition to the College’s SLEs, students experience additional HIPs early in their Etown career through first-year seminars and intensive writing courses.

Etown’s SLE program has received national recognition from the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Faculty integral to the implementation of SLE’s represented the College at the 2016 AACU National Conference, presenting research and data on the effectiveness of Etown’s student engagement capstone experiences.

Recently, the College launched a new Million Dollar Match to expand student access to a transformative Etown education through the creation of 20 new $50,000 SLE funds as part of Build Brighter Futures: The Scholarship Campaign for Etown Students.

This new initiative seeks to generate $1 million in new SLE funding, doubling $25,000 SLE commitments, dollar for dollar, to create 20 new $50,000 SLE funds, increasing opportunities for invaluable real-world learning experiences for Etown students.