Center for Experiential Learning (CEL)
Modular Village • 507-786-3268 • www stolaf.edu/services/cel •cel@stolaf.edu

Enrich Your Education With Experience!
The CEL is comprised of four umbrella programs offering a host of opportunities to gain experience while pursuing an undergraduate degree. Within each program are initiatives that promote the CEL’s mission to “create and facilitate experiential learning that complements the St. Olaf curriculum.” In addition, the CEL is a resource center for students, providing information and assistance to help determine vocational goals and devise well-informed post-graduation plans.

Four Collaborative Experiential Programs

Career Connections
This program assists students in developing career and life plans that are personally relevant and professionally meaningful with resources and one-on-one help to:

  • Determine values, interests, skills, and abilities (VISA)
  • Explore careers that are compatible with one’s VISA
  • Develop career and life plans
  • Network with professionals and develop contacts
  • Identify and apply to post-graduation employment, service, or graduate school opportunities

Internships
This program promotes internships that are closely related to academic work, giving students an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a real-world environment. The internship program partners with students as they:

  • Explore and procure internships and job shadowing experiences, for academic credit or career experience
  • Develop transferable skills, test interests, and identify growth areas
  • Evaluate career and graduate school options
  • Develop professional contacts

Civic Engagement
This program broadens academic experiences by linking students and faculty with service and civic leadership opportunities on local, national, and international levels. Initiatives raise awareness of social issues and encourage students to:

  • Participate in curricular-based service-learning and community-based research projects
  • Engage with the community through established and developing partnerships
  • Demonstrate leadership in nonprofit and public organizations
  • Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to initiate social change

Entrepreneurial Studies
This program nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit in the broadest sense, by providing students opportunities to:

  • Apply for Finstad grants of up to $3,000 for start-up ventures
  • Participate in the Ole Ventures student group
  • Intern with entrepreneurial alumni
  • Compete in business plan competitions
  • Attend lectures, panels, and events

An Experiential Guide for Your Years at St. Olaf College

First Year: Discovery

  • Attend an “Identifying Vocational Interests” workshop and take an interest or personality inventory.
  • Fulfill general education requirements and note courses of interest.
  • Observe and reflect upon patterns of interest that emerge through choices in books, movies, recreational activities, etc.
  • Link to the CEL’s Majors and Careers websites, noting interests and reactions.
  • Serve with an organization in your interest area.
  • Join a student organization that relates to your interests.
  • Research majors or career interest areas using the CEL resource library.

Sophomore: Investigation and Exploration

  • Work with a CEL counselor to create an experiential learning plan.
  • Find a work-study opportunity that relates to your career goals.
  • Explore workshops, events, and activities presented by the CEL’s four programs.
  • Attend career panels and forums related to your major or interests.
  • Engage in job shadowing opportunities.
  • Conduct informational interviews with alumni, faculty, family friends, etc.

Junior: Experimentation & Evaluation

  • Work on an independent study, research, or other project with a faculty member.
  • Attend an internship search workshop, explore internship opportunities, and prepare to apply.
  • Maximize your internship with evaluation and reflection.
  • Test your entrepreneurial skills: obtain a Finstad grant to start a nonprofit or for-profit venture.
  • Seek opportunities for student leadership.
  • Obtain a summer job or part-time work in your field of interest.

Senior: Implementation

  • Define your post-graduation goals and create an action plan.
  • Utilize your network in seeking opportunities.
  • Attend the CEL workshops relevant to your goals.
  • Create your personal calendar of job, volunteer, and graduate school fairs and recruiting events.
  • Create a resume and cover letter and have them critiqued.
  • Write a personal statement and curriculum vitae for graduate school applications.
  • Enhance your self-presentation skills with a practice interview.

Get Started!
The CEL has resources to help you:

  • extensive Website resources
  • Ole Recruiting: Web-based internship and job postings
  • developmental workshops
  • Webinars
  • peer advisors for walk-in assistance M–F, 9–5
  • one-on-one counseling & advising
  • career panels, retreats, and special events
  • resource library on majors, careers, internships, graduate and professional school, volunteer and service opportunities, and vocational discernment
  • self-assessment instruments
  • pre-law advising and events
  • assistance with resumes/CVs, personal statements, letters, etc.
  • CEL Yourself email alias