Starting this Fall, Ursinus College will begin to implement the first components of its transformative APEX: Applied. Professional. Experiential learning ecosystem. Grounded in liberal education, APEX is a novel approach that will enable all students to apply their learning in project-based courses, collaborate with faculty and fellow students on solutions to global problems, and build career-relevant competencies.
APEX will enable all students to :
- Tackle pressing global challenges through collaborative Innovation Centers
- Apply for an experiential learning grant of up to $2,000 to support transformative experiences like unpaid internships, study abroad programs, or faculty-led research
- Collaborate with faculty and students on solutions to global problems
- Build career-relevant competencies
4-year experiential Learning journey
First Year
Students will engage in hands-on experiences, including faculty-led trips, community visits, and real-world case studies focused on complex problem-solving.
Second Year
Students will shadow professionals in various fields, from government and business to healthcare and beyond, both in Pennsylvania and nationwide.
Third Year
Students will join teams to design and prototype solutions to real-world challenges.
Fourth Year
The journey culminates with a final presentation, showcasing the student's academic and experiential achievements.
Empowering Future Leaders
Every incoming Ursinus student will be supported by a professional academic advisor and career coach as part of a team-based advising structure. During their first year, students will collaborate with the coaching team on creating an individual development plan for academic and professional success, draft an initial resume, connect with guest speakers from a wide range of industries, and acquire foundational professional skills.
All incoming students will also join one of several career communities that connect the career coaching structure with faculty, coursework, and campuswide programming. The career communities will provide opportunities for faculty-moderated panels and skills workshops with employers and enable students to benefit from a strong cohort- and peer-based learning environment and a growing support network. Students will also take two one-credit courses designed to:
- Transition smoothly to college life
- Build a strong academic foundation
- Explore future career paths
- Establish goals
- Strengthen networking skills
The team-based advising and coaching structure as well as the career communities will support students from their first day on campus all the way through graduation, ensuring that all students can grow to their fullest potential and lay a strong foundation for ongoing professional success.
