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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State undergraduates from all campuses and majors can now apply for Student Engagement Network (SEN) grants to support a variety of engagement experiences in May and summer 2024 . Engagement experiences come in a variety of formats and include a $1,000 grant. With up to her $2,000, a student can cover a variety of expenses.
The deadline to apply for the SEN grant is 11:59pm on Sunday 17th March. Application forms and additional information can be found here. Award decision notification will be sent the week of his April 1st, and all engagement experiences during this grant cycle must be completed by his August 15th, 2024.
SEN grant helps take students to Antarctica
Four students used SEN Grants to fund an excursion to Antarctica in autumn 2023 through an embedded course. The College of Agriculture’s Environmental Resource Management Program and Ag Science Global conducted the course in collaboration with Virginia Tech and AUIP. The class spent the fall semester attending weekly lectures by experts, researching and writing reports, and completing projects before embarking on a two-week trip.
Tammy Shannon, academic advisory coordinator for the Environmental Resource Management program, was one of two faculty leaders for the embedded course. Students explored places like the Beagle Passage and crossed the Drake Passage. Shannon said her experience in Antarctica was truly life-changing.
“The waves and wind were violent at times,” she said of the Drake Passage. “Seeing land and the surreal Antarctic landscape for the first time was a visceral experience for me, as there was no need to compare it to memory and everything was a new sensory experience. First from the ship, then from the ship. The views from the Zodiac boat confirmed that Antarctica is unpredictable, intense, and pristine. It was a life-changing experience, and one I plan to take for the rest of my life.”
Mr Shannon said the course was designed to promote understanding of sustainability and ecotourism, seabirds, oceanography and sea ice, and encourage participation in citizen science projects. A key part of the course was to connect students with experts from the University of Canterbury’s Gateway Antarctica: Center for Antarctic Studies and Research in the autumn term.
“The collaborative citizen science project will have a broader impact and measure changes in the environment over time as students in future courses collect data,” Shannon said.
Kecha Lingenfelter, assistant director of student global engagement in the College of Agricultural Sciences, said embedded courses provide an excellent opportunity for students to put what they learn in the classroom into practice. Classroom learning also helps students bond and prepare to travel together.
“This not only allows students to expand their knowledge of the subject matter of the course to a more global level, but also develops empathy and interpersonal skills by experiencing cultures and landscapes different from their own. ,” Lingenfelter said.
“The most engaging international itineraries include hands-on activities, interaction with local experts on the subject of the course, interaction with local students and communities, and guidance and self-reflection to grow and learn from the experience. Both opportunities are included,” she added. . “This allows for a deeper understanding of both the subject matter on a global level and the local culture.”
Engagement grants available to students on all campuses
Undergraduate students from all Penn State campuses may apply to the SEN Grant program as individuals or groups. Students have the chance to receive her $1,000 or her $2,000 to cover various costs. Each student will be assigned an engagement coach who will help them complete the required SEN online Her Canvas course and improve their engagement experience. The SEN Online Canvas course is a non-credit, no-additional-fee course that focuses on the student engagement journey. Maymester and her summer 2024 grant total is $80,000, with individual grants totaling her $60,000 and group grants totaling her $20,000.
“We are proud to highlight the importance of the SEN Grants Program in academia. By easing financial constraints, our program provides support for out-of-class experiences such as internships, research work, and educational trips abroad. “We provide students with a valuable opportunity to enrich their lives,” Michael said. Mr. Zeman, Director of Student Engagement Network. “Throughout each grant cycle, our students demonstrate remarkable dedication and innovation, contributing to a variety of projects that significantly improve their academic careers.”
Below are examples of engagement experiences that SEN may consider for funding. Students and teachers are encouraged to ask SEN staff any questions they may have.
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undergraduate research
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internship
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community-based learning
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creative achievements
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Courses that include elements outside of the class
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organizational experience
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peer mentoring
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Students’ independent efforts
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volunteer activities
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Employment experience
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Study abroad/study abroad experience
The Engagement App is another way to explore and discover engagement opportunities across all campuses. Visit the site or download from the App Store or Google Play.
The Student Engagement Network is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education and Penn State Student Affairs.
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