{"id":87416,"date":"2025-11-13T15:52:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T20:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/?post_type=r_cas_magazine&p=87416"},"modified":"2025-11-21T12:09:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T17:09:50","slug":"learning-by-doing","status":"publish","type":"r_cas_magazine","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/arts-sciences\/2025\/learning-by-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning by Doing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Professor Paul Trunfio teaching students<\/p>\n

Data was provided by EL Connector staff or was collected in the EL Connector\u2019s 2024 and 2025 baseline assessment surveys, conducted in partnership with BU\u2019s Office of Continued Improvement & Data Analytics (CIDA). | Photo by Chris McIntosh for Boston University Photography<\/p>\n

Arts & Sciences launched the Experiential Learning (EL) Connector in 2022 to raise awareness of internships, research, and other opportunities for students to learn by doing. In 2025, more than 3,200 undergraduate students were reached through EL Connector programs and outreach.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Awareness<\/h6>\n

CAS students familiar with the resources at the EL Connector grew from 50%<\/strong> in 2023-24 to 78%<\/strong> in 2024-25<\/p>\n

Engagement<\/h6>\n

Student consultations conducted by EL Ambassadors increased 1,000%<\/strong> from 2023-24 to 2024-25. 94.9%<\/strong> of participants in 2024\u201325 who agreed that their consultation deepened their knowledge of EL.<\/p>\n

Participation<\/h6>\n

Arts & Sciences students participated in a wide range of EL opportunities in 2024\u201325, some through EL Connector programs and some they found on their own.<\/p>\n

69%<\/strong> Applied Coursework
\n81.8%<\/strong> Community Engagement
\n62%<\/strong> Creation & Innovation
\n49.4%<\/strong> Fieldwork
\n68.1%<\/strong> Internships
\n77.3%<\/strong> Leadership
\n56.8%<\/strong> Mentored Research
\n81.1%<\/strong> Student Employment
\n51.7%<\/strong> Study Away\/Abroad<\/p>\n

I could not have done [my internship] without the EL Connector, and that internship has led to new opportunities, opened a career path for me, and helped me find my passion.<\/p>\n

Sean Waddington (CAS\u201925)
\n2023 Boston City Council intern,
\n2024 Massachusetts House of Representatives intern,
\nnow the chief of staff for a delegate
\nto the Maryland General Assembly<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Internship Courses<\/h6>\n
\"\"
Bar chart showing progression of students who have interned due to the ELC course offering.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many internships require that students earn credit for their participation, and international students must be enrolled in a course to be allowed to intern off campus. In spring 2024, the EL Connector began offering a course that students can take while interning\u2014and 96 have completed it so far.<\/p>\n

Summer Internship Support<\/h6>\n

The EL Connector helps students participate in Boston-based internships by providing housing, dining, and professional support resources.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Back to full issue<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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