CAS Student Experiential Learning Fund

• FGCU students may be graduate or undergraduate students and must be enrolled at the
  time of the experience.
• Students may only receive funding for one award per academic year through their faculty
  sponsor. Funds must be spent or encumbered by May 31, 2025.
• Faculty traveling with students to a conference may request travel expenses as part of an
  award.
• Students/Faculty who have not received an award previously during the current fiscal year.

Most awards will range between $250-$2500. Please work with your departments for funding less
than the minimum. The number of awards will vary based on the number of students supported and
the activity (max of $1000 per individual). Awards greater than $2500 may be available but would
require discussion between the Dean’s office and the faculty sponsor, prior to application.

Awards can be used to fund experiences for students but must have a faculty sponsor who
facilitates the learning before/during/or after the activity. There are three types of awards that can
be made, Class and Major Experiences, Community Engagement Experiences, and Research
Experiences

1. Class and Major Experiences to pursue CAS majors may include

• Activities that develop students to pursue CAS majors. Such events should be on campus.
  Some examples include
  • meet-and-greet events with faculty
  • departmental symposia
  • research events
• Experiential trips for groups of students that provide context to connect student knowledge
  to
  • museums
  • performances
  • archives
  • laboratories
  • botanical gardens
  • post-secondary education sites (such as graduate schools)
• Other types of experiential learning activities that might require smaller travel
  reimbursements for mileage or an overnight stay.

2. Community Engagement Experiences

• Activities developed by student(s) and faculty sponsor that engages a sector of the
  community with the student major or research interest. Such events may be on or off
  campus. Some examples include
  • Outreach activities in a major or class to K-12 level students.
  • Outreach activities in a major or class to a community center or other non-profit
    entity.

3. Research Experiences in CAS majors tend to be individual, or within the same sub-
discipline and may include

• • Research activities to sites for data collection
  • Software license purchases for research
  • Presenting or attending academic conferences
  • Publication costs for a faculty-student co-authored paper

Reflection reports should be submitted within two weeks after completion of the activity and should include the following:

• Reflections from student recipients benefiting from an award as part of the experiential learning process
• A faculty reflection outlining the benefits and impact the activity had on the student(s)
• At least one photo showing students engaged in the activity supported.  

See additional details below for specific types of experiences:

Reflection reports for Class, Major, and Community Engagement Experiences:  The faculty sponsor should collate a set of reflections on the group experience for submission.  Students should briefly answer a questions such as:

How did participation in this activity affect the way that you think about (this class/your major)?

Reflection reports for Research Experiences: Students receiving support for a research activity should prepare a reflection for submission in consultation with their faculty sponsor.  Reflective reports for students who benefited significantly from the fund (presentation at a conference, travel abroad, research activities) should provide a paragraph reflection (250-750 words) that outlines how the experience has impacted their thinking about their major and the impact the activity has on their future career.  

Contact Laura Frost in the Dean’s office if you have any questions.