Integrated Undergraduate Experience (IUE)

At the heart of this initiative is a holistic and ambitious vision to help every student connect the dots between their studies and the pursuit of a fulfilling career and a meaningful life. We aim to determine tangible methods and practices that will make our skills- and career-oriented programs more visible, accessible, and understandable to students as they navigate their undergraduate years and plan for success after graduation.

An early dimension of this important work involved interviewing students from a diverse array of backgrounds and life experiences, including non-traditional and under-represented students, first generation students, and direct admits. They told us that while they appreciate the vast range of options available to them, the complexity of IU Bloomington can be overwhelming. Many are uncertain about how to access resources and opportunities, and few are taking full advantage of all the College has to offer, including career coaching and academic advising.

We’ve identified four pillars of the undergraduate experience that can be more intentionally designed as central to the College student experience. This model could be transformational for our students, taking the guess work out of the student success equation, and improve our ability attract and retain students. We want to ensure that every student—not only those with the cultural and social capital to seek them out—has the opportunity to realize the fullest potential of the education we offer in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Career Fellows Program

Through extensive research on career readiness, work with the National Association of Colleges and Employers, discussions with faculty spearheaded by a special working group, and dialogue with a host of employers, the College of Arts and Sciences has identified twelve competencies that are taught throughout our curriculum.

The College is using funding from Eli Lilly to establish a Career Connections Fellowship intended to help faculty make students more aware that what they are learning in the classroom will be of great use to them in post-college careers. The fellowship is designed to offer long-term faculty the opportunity to workshop—in a cohort setting—a course that they already teach or would like to teach, paying special attention to elevating the awareness of how what they teach reaches beyond strictly academic settings. On the most basic level, the Career Connections Fellowship is designed to aid faculty in helping their students better recognize the far-reaching value of their education and experiences. Interested faculty can learn more and apply to become a fellow on the Walter Center’s Website.

We believe that transforming our undergraduate experience to elevate research, life design, immersive educational experiences, and career readiness will produce more motivated and engaged learners who see what they are learning in the classroom as critical to their life-long pursuits of meaningful work and services. If you would like to learn more please reach out directly to Joe Lovejoy, assistant dean for integrated undergraduate experience, at jflovejo@iu.edu or 812-856-6085.