{"id":22048,"date":"2026-07-27T08:15:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T12:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.etown.edu\/?p=22048"},"modified":"2026-07-27T08:14:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T12:14:39","slug":"elizabethtown-college-marks-10-years-of-guaranteed-high-impact-signature-learning-experiences-for-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.etown.edu\/index.php\/2026\/07\/27\/elizabethtown-college-marks-10-years-of-guaranteed-high-impact-signature-learning-experiences-for-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Elizabethtown College Marks 10 Years of Guaranteed High-Impact Signature Learning Experiences for Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

SLE\u2019s were initially developed as part of the College\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am very pleased that SLE\u2019s have evolved to become a distinctive feature of an Elizabethtown College education,\u201d McClellan said. \u201cThey help to facilitate a strong emphasis on learning by doing.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Approved by faculty in late April 2013, SLEs were officially implemented into the College\u2019s course requirements during the 2013-14 academic year, making the Class of 2017 the first cohort to enter under the SLE curricula.<\/span><\/p>\n

Connected to a national movement in higher education to promote student engagement through \u201chigh-impact practices\u201d (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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since their implementation, SLEs have become a significant part of Etown\u2019s curriculum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s five SLEs:<\/span><\/p>\n