By Madelin Shelton —
U of L Provost Lori Gonzalez recently announced a new university initiative to start this fall named the Center for Engaged Learning.
“In alignment with the university’s Great Place to Learn pillar of the strategic plan, the Center for Engaged Learning will provide a coordinated effort around experiential learning and undergraduate research across our campuses,” Gonzalez said. The center is said to have a priority on underrepresented students.
The center consists of two units: the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of Experiential Learning. Dr. Paul DeMarco from the Graduate School is the acting interim director of undergraduate research. A search will be conducted to appoint a director of experiential learning. The university said that additional units will be added as the center grows.
“Planning for the structure of the center will continue this fall and build upon the leadership and recommendations provided by the provost office and members of the Learn 2 and Learn 3 subcommittees. These subcommittees of the Learn Workgroup were charged with developing recommendations for how to engage every undergraduate student in required, meaningful experiential learning opportunities and to engage students in research that will bolster our prominence among Carnegie-classified Research 1 universities,” Gonzalez said.
U of L acknowledged that experiential learning and student research opportunities exist within the university, but that the center will provide a coordinated and expanded effort.