Author: Autumn Cierniak
TOLEDO, Ohio — The University of Toledo is expanding an experiential learning
program designed to give students hands-on career experience before they graduate.
The university was recently ranked among the top third of national universities in the
U.S. News & World Report rankings, with career placement among the factors
considered in the ranking.
At the center of UT’s effort is ASCEND Advantage Toledo, or Applied Skills for Career
Experience, Networking and Development. The program connects classroom learning
with real-world experiences intended to help students better understand their career
options and develop skills they can use after graduation.
UT Provost Mitchell McKinney said the entire incoming fall cohort will have Experiential
learning incorporated into their degree at the university.
Study abroad opportunities, co-op or clinical experiences, and research understudies
are some examples of experiential programs already implemented into many colleges.
ASCEND looks to further improve and accentuate these opportunities.
The coursework also helps students determine whether their chosen major and career
path are the right fit.
“We’ve heard from students where that activity decided to help them change their
major. That wasn’t the career path that they desired,” McKinney said.
Experiential learning is already incorporated into many colleges and programs at UT,
with about 80% of students participating in some form of experiential program,
according to the university.
This includes programs in the Department of Communication, where students can gain
hands-on experience through courses such as RNN and live sports production.
These courses allow students to work in a variety of media roles while developing skills
that may not traditionally be taught in a classroom setting.
John Eidenmiller, an executive producer at UT, said ASCEND helps students make the
connection between what they learn in class and what they will encounter in their
careers.
“The great thing about the ASCEND program is it helps students connect what they’re
doing in the classroom with what they’re going to be doing in their careers after they
graduate,” Eidenmiller said.
The goal of Rocket ASCEND is to give UT students practical experience and help
prepare them for successful careers after graduation.