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ELC Updates

Power Your Experience

Many people wonder, what’s exactly the “Experiential Learning Center (ELC)?”  Experiential Learning activities include academic internships, service-learning and undergraduate research.  The ELC works closely with students, faculty, employers and community partners to provide quality experiential learning opportunities that enhance academic learning, integrate theory and practice, and promote professional development and active citizenship. Experiential learning includes a variety of activities with one common goal: to immerse students in hands-on learning outside the classroom where experience is at the heart of the learning process.  In short, the Experiential Learning Center is the “Go-To” campus resource for all these activities.

This past year has brought many changes to the ELC.  Under the new leadership of Director Tony Smith, the ELC has implemented a number of process improvements.  Multiple orientation workshops have been added, enabling us to increase service by more than 66 students per week. Learning Agreement submissions, evaluations and assessment processes have been streamlined, improving efficiency and convenience to students, employers and faculty engaged in experiential learning activities.  Office space has been redesigned, including workshop space for use by the ELC as well as faculty, community partners and student groups.  A food pantry for CU Denver students has been created and has served over 270 students thus far.  These various process improvements have enabled us to more efficiently serve all our constituents. 

In addition to process improvement, you may have begun to recognize the large blue symbol around campus, representing our new “Power Your Experience” brand.  This new brand is symbolic of what we do.  This symbol was chosen because the ELC gives students all the resources they need to “power” their experience; they just have to hit the button and go!

We’ve also been reaching out to constituents in new ways by utilizing various social networking sites such as Facebook, Blogger and YouTube.  We’ve been employing new video marketing techniques to improve campus-wide awareness.  These videos were created by students for students.  With this philosophy in mind, we hope to gain more awareness and showcase the power of student involvement. 

All these improvements have shown positive results.  Just over the past year, we’ve successfully filled 485 internship placements (translating to just under 2 internship placements per day), surpassing last year and have recorded nearly 50,000 student volunteer hours – an increase of 30%.  The statistics speak for themselves.  We are increasing the quantity and quality of our experiential learning assistance to students, faculty and ELC partners.  

The ELC remains committed to maintaining an attitude of service.  We go out of our way to help, whether that comes in the form of experiential assistance or simply walking a lost student down the hall to find an office.  Our mantra is: “We are the Experiential Learning Center and we are here for you!”

Outstanding Intern of the Year

The UC Denver Experiential Learning Center (ELC) facilitates hundreds of internships each year. To recognize student accomplishments as interns, one student intern is named as “outstanding.” The 2010-11 Outstanding Intern of the Year recipient is Anne Mailhot, undergraduate biology.

Mailhot participated in a summer 2010 undergraduate research internship with Virginia Winn, MD, a researcher in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine. Throughout the internship, Mailhot was teamed with professional research staff and contributed in experiments related to placental biopsies.

Mailhot’s commitment to excellence impressed her faculty sponsor Aimee Bernard, PhD. In her nomination, Bernard wrote, “Anne was a very hard-working, dedicated and consistently exemplary student . . . [who] serves as a role model for future internship students.” It was Mailhot’s dedication and great work ethic that helped her exceed in the challenging biology internship.

Mailhot went above and beyond basic intern requirements by utilizing her public speaking skills to showcase her part in Winn’s research at the April 15 Research and Creative Activities Symposium, resulting in a nomination for the Outstanding Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities award. For that endeavor, Mailhot was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.

According to Winn, the department profited from Mailhot’s hard work, particularly due to a new database system she created to better organize departmental information.

Mailhot said the work benefitted her, too. “This experience helped to reaffirm my goals to pursue a career as a physician and, unexpectedly, had profound impacts on my individuality, perseverance and confidence.”

Since graduating, Mailhot is utilizing her expertise as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Anschutz Medical Campus. She also will be a keynote speaker for the Experiential Learning Showcase and Celebration occurring spring 2012.

She credits her internship for developing skills needed to further her career in the biological field. “I will continue to use the skills that I developed from the guidance of my mentors and the experiences I gained from research as I continue on my path as a professional and as an aspiring physician.”

Week Twenty: Last Day . . . At My Other Job!

Well, this is my last day as an intern at the office.  I’m feeling a bit sad, but that’s because I’m quitting . . . my other job to work here next semester as the first paid Staff Writer!  I’m very excited to get an opportunity such as this.  It never seemed too much like a job here and it’s hard to believe that I will actually getting paid for my writing.  I never thought I would see the day . . .

Let’s take a look at this for a minute.  I spent well over five years bagging groceries and working customer service.  Not that this was a bad job or anything, but I’m going to college to be a writer.  I was hesitant in the first place to get an internship.  I knew that I would be graduating soon.  I also knew that I would need experience to get a job but that I wouldn’t be able to get experience without getting a job that I couldn’t get because it required experience.  Confusing?  It’s the paradox of our generation.

Luckily, I found out about internships.  I went into the ELC to get help getting an internship and they were so helpful they gave me an internship as Staff Writer.  Not only did I get college credit and experience in my field but now I am also doing this as my job.  Getting this real-world experience also helped me figure out exactly what I wanted to do when I graduate.   I now have experience, my writing is getting published, and I’m gaining important networking connections . . . who knew that this many avenues would have opened up for me through this internship?  I encourage each and every person to get an internship and start actually doing what you want to do.   

Week Nineteen: PC Wars

As I’ve said before, I’m a Mac Man!  I work hard, I have integrity and I like to do things in the most efficient way.  It appears this PC disagrees with me.  The proof is in this very page.  It has two lines on it now, but once was a nice, quaint little finalized article.  Why is it gone?  Well, I put trust in the PC and didn’t click save.  That was my first mistake.  It decided to take this blog and crash it into the ground (after five minutes of not responding to my mouse-clicking, enter-smacking, end-task striking rampage).  Maybe I should give it the benefit of the doubt.  It’s early, so maybe it was tired.  It’s also Friday, so maybe it had a big weekend it was looking forward to.  Maybe it was sick.  I don’t know, but I’m frustrated.  I couldn’t help but think of what my job would look like if I adopted the work ethic of this very PC. 

I could come into work and take my sweet time getting all warmed up and ready.  Then, when the boss tells me to do a task, I’ll put up my finger (the hourglass of the human) as to say, “hang on a minute.”  Hey, I’m starting the task on my own time here.  I will then do the project my own way.  When the boss wants a certain word here or there, I’ll autocorrect it to how I feel it should be written.  Halfway through, I’ll freeze up.  With arms crossed, I’ll stare at my boss and mentally shut down.  What can my boss do about it?  Trust me to send my own error report somewhere that nobody will read?  Bah!

No, PC, get you’re green-squiggly line off of here.  My grammar is just fine, thank you very much.  Don’t insult my intelligence.   Now what is it PC?  Oh great!  A red-squiggly line!  Wait a minute, let me check. . .   

Oh fine, I’ll give you that one PC.  Thanks for helping me spell squiggly. 

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering is an important branch of the Experiential Learning Center (ELC).  The ELC facilitates a wide-range of volunteer opportunities for students.  We maintain VolunteerLink, containing a vast database of service opportunities.  You can navigate VolunteerLink with ease to find the perfect service outlet, matching your personality and interests.  If you only have limited time to give, the convenient pit stop you may be for is the Stop and Serve Program, where you can literally stop in and volunteer as much, or as little, time as you like.

Want to get scholarship money for volunteering?  The UCAN Serve program offers a monetary scholarship for volunteering that helps pay for school expenses.  The ELC also hosts a volunteer fair, connecting students, faculty and staff to local organizations who offer volunteer opportunities.  The ELC partners with Habitat for Humanity, enabling students to participate in monthly volunteer opportunities.  Spring and winter alternative breaks allow students to spend a week doing direct service for various organizations.   

Why volunteer?  Volunteering helps you gain experience outside the classroom, expands your networking of connections, sculpts skills in your field of study and perpetuates your future goals.   Volunteering is the travel mug of experience—serving you on the go and providing experience that works around what’s convenient for you!  Come talk to our Service Learning Coordinator, Kyra Tarbell.  She will guide you towards a volunteer program based on your interests, your location and the amount of time you’re willing to commit.  She’ll match you with the type of populations that interest you.  Whatever route you choose, volunteering is an asset to your resume!   

If you want to help make the world a better place, while helping yourself gain professional experience, come to the Experiential Learning Center and open the door to the vast opportunities volunteering can provide.  UCD students, plug your interests, talent and hard work into the outlet of volunteering and see the rewards you could gain.      

Week Eighteen: The Pain of Editing

If you were to look at my fingernails right now you would see little jagged nubs.  Why?  I’m trying to compromise with myself.  I’m editing my volunteer article (still without title).  I like it the way it was, but recognize it can be much better.  Tam made some interesting edits/comments that made me see the flaws and strengths in the article.  This is now the process that causes my incessant nail biting.

Mr. Paragraph looks a little distraught and awkward.  I notice a sentence—Mr. Paragraph’s arm—is deformed.  I argue with myself about how to do surgery.  I pull out my surgical tools and rewire it.  Then it looks worse, so I pull it off and discard it.  Then I attach a new one.  This one looks funky as well, so I toy with it some more.  It looks even worse than before.  So I put the original back on and realize that was the wrong arm.  

Week Seventeen: On Writing

          I’m glad to see that real writing is finally happening now.  Not

that I wasn’t really writing before, but it felt too much like a

process.  In my experience, the best writing doesn’t come from

this.  So far, in trying to fit the mold of an article writer, I turned it

into a generator.  The article was spread out in front of me and all I

had to do was plug things in.  Here’s an opener (make it real

catchy).  Here’s a quote (fix the speaker’s grammar).  Here’s some

researched information (hopefully it’s correct).  And so on and so

forth.  This writing felt forced, mechanical and stiff.  I would read

over the first drafts and get bored with the predictability.  Sure, it

was fine for an article, but I wanted it to be interesting.  When I

pushed myself to start breaking these molds I felt the freedom to

make the writing interesting as well as fun to write.

           Now I feel like I’m doing that.  I started a blog but got

caught up in it and turned it into a full-on article.  I stretched myself

and by doing so I was able to pepper my articles with my voice and

creative touch, truly making them my articles.  The consequence,

however, is disorganization.  I know what I’m trying to say and

expect everyone else to know it, too.  It’s hard to slow down

sometimes and create good flow and pacing.  I think we all

experience this when we are excited.  We rush to get to the punch

line but forget to tell the joke.

Week Sixteen: Auraria Through the Reading Glass

     This week I began many new projects.  I started mapping out and putting together the portfolio/Staff Writer manual.  I started writing a few blogs about my experiences at the ELC that will go up on the Facebook page in the future.  I also began brainstorming an article about the ELC from an insider, intern’s perspective.  On top of this, I have continued plowing through the mounds of success stories left to do.    

      I also took a historical tour of the Auraria Campus, which was actually very interesting.  We walked around the campus with the overcast sky and learned about the rich history this campus has to offer.  It’s interesting that you can walk past buildings and not even notice them until they’re presented to you close-up and detailed through the reading-glass frames of history. 

Week Fifteen: Bessie's Hope

This week I went with the ELC staff to do a volunteer project through Bessie’s Hope—an organization that promotes and aids in nursing home visitations.  They were founded on the principle of helping out the elderly that don’t have the opportunity to get many visits.  Through this, we were able to go and visit the elderly and bring some various plants to give to them (which they were very excited to pick out).  We helped them water the plants, sang songs with them and talked with them about their lives.  At one point, a somewhat quiet older lady piped up, “what’s with all that stuff all over your face (referring to my facial hair)?”  She told it like it was.  I wasn’t too upset, since she proceeded to ask me if I was married.  When I replied no, she inferred that she was single as well. 

There were many interesting conversations that went on in the few hours we spent at the nursing home.  Overall, it was a rewarding experience and I’m glad that I could have helped brighten those people’s day.  And, hey, if I ever need a date, now I know where to look!

Week Fourteen: Article Complete

This week I finished the DPD article.  It is completely finalized after four rough drafts and will be sent out to get published in various outlets including yourhub.com, the Advocate and the Denver Police Department.  The completion of this article brings me much happiness.  One, I’m glad to be rid of the thing after beating it around for so long.  Two, it is the first concrete, creative piece I have to show for myself in this internship.  Three, I can turn my energies to different projects with more direction and take pride in having completed something that took so much research gathering, finite editing and mental work to complete.   

Burnt Bridges and Busywork: 10 Ways to Fail any Internship

By: Casey Prey

Are you jealous of your jobless friends?  Tired of dragging yourself to that internship week after week?  Do you need more personal time to go shopping or play video games?  Then follow these ten easy tips to FAIL your internship (works 100% of the time)! 

10.  Step one’s easy.  Show up late and leave early!  This gives you more time to do the things you’d rather be doing.  If you’re really keen, you could show up late, leave early, and still mark a full day’s work.  After all, it’s just a little white lie, and may help you fail that internship even faster!  Hit the snooze, read the paper and miss your bus.  Showing up early will make companies want to keep you employed, and who wants that?   

9.       Do not, I repeat, do not set goals with both yourself and your boss.  That’s a surefire way to find success and learn. 

8.       Turn the company’s time into your time.  That way, you can get paid for it.  The logic is flawless.  Anytime you can surf the internet, listen to some tunes, or flirt with your coworkers while still getting paid, do it!  You’ll be “let go” in no time and have a few extra unearned dollars in your pocket. 

7.       Don’t ask questions and don’t pay attention.  Interns should already know it all, but if you don’t — fake it!      

6.       Don’t just make excuses . . . blame everyone else.  If the boss asks you why you left your dirty dish in the break room sink, don’t settle by saying you were in a hurry; go the extra mile and blame it on Tim the research assistant!  Making enemies is an easy way to get out of the workplace and into some comfy sweatpants. 

5.       Lie about your qualifications.  Businesses hate dishonest employees.  Naturally, lying about qualifications is the quickest way to get out of any internship.  In fact, lie every chance you get, because lying equals lying . . . unemployed and on a cozy couch. 

4.       This one should be instinct for any slacker.  Get out of work every chance you can.  A great way to do this is to utilize the “excessive break procedure.”  For instance, use the restroom frequently (even if you don’t need to go to the restroom), take coffee breaks (even if you don’t drink coffee), and, my favorite, exploit “personal problem” breaks (i.e. pretend there’s a crisis that you just have to attend to).  If you must actually do some work, be sure to cut corners, cheat, and con your way to the bare minimum. 

3         Be negative about everything.  Complain about the work.  Complain about the boss. Complain about the company.  Nobody likes a whiner, so make sure to grumble, carp, and nag your way to unemployment victory.

2.       Never take initiative.  Don’t live up to your potential.  If initiative shows anything, it’s that you want to be there, and you definitely don’t want to be there.  Proudly display this attitude.  Step into the background, be a fly on the wall and show that you’re not up to the task.  Kiss pesky recommendation letters goodbye (along with that dreaded word “success”) and you’ll be passed over in a heartbeat.    

1.       This last step is the ultimate foolproof way to fail any internship.  Never, under any circumstance, communicate clearly!  Keep your faculty advisor in the dark, ignore the help of your internship advisor, and do not address any problems with your employer.  Effective communication is the one tool that advisors, employers, and faculty utilize to keep you in those wasteful, so called “career-building” internships.  Falling into this trap will only serve to help you have a successful internship experience and be a great stepping stone for your future career.  Who wants that?  There are simply too many great television shows you simply cannot afford to miss.

So there you have it.  Casey Prey’s proven effective, “Internship Failure Method.”  See the results instantly!  100% failure guarantee.  *Not recommended for the hard-working, success-chasing, future-of-tomorrow type people.  If you’re one of those, simply do the opposite.  As for the rest of you . . . I’ll catch you on the couch! 

Week Thirteen: This and That

This week I turned my rough draft article in to Tam.  We talked about it and made a few edits.  I added a few more hundred words to it and I will work on finalizing it next week.  I finished all of the success stories.  There is over forty ready for upload onto the ELC website. 

I’ve learned that editing is a painful but rewarding process.  When editing the writing of others, their mistakes are blatant trolls blaring out of the page, pointing and laughing at me.  I stamp them out with a loud but satisfactory CLICK of the delete button and replace those trolls with little patches of lilies.

However, when I write—I write no wrong.   Meaning, I look over my articles, make a few edits, and think I’m good to go.  Then I turn it into Tam.  She points out all the obvious mistakes I should have seen.  This and that (literally: “this,” “that,” “those”—the dreadful referent ambiguities) become apparent to me and I hang my head in shame.  I think this is a lesson that can be applied to everyone.  It is so easy to see the faults and mistakes in others, yet so hard to notice it in ourselves.  Rough draft after rough draft, this article-writing will be a humbling but rewarding experience. 

Week Twelve: Operation ELC

This week I spent a lot of time developing the article about Denver Police Department internships.  I completed a rough draft of about 540 words, which is basically an article encouraging students from all majors to look into doing an internship there. 

On Friday, we had a staff meeting.  I learned everybody’s favorite movie and attempted to single out just one to present as my own, an activity I encourage you to try (it’s harder than you think!). 

But we didn’t just sit around and talk about movies.  We delved into the deepest chasms of Operation ELC.  I learned how complex and precise this center is.  I got to be a part of the communication process and I was able to see, firsthand, the different frustrations and problems as well as successes that go along with a business such as this. 

The ELC is like one of those old grandfather clocks.  There are many finite pieces and gears that precisely fit together, turning in syncopation to make this place “tick.”  I hope that I can do my part to add to the “tock.”    

Week Elevan: Busy Work

This week I have been working on condensing down some more of the success stories.  I have been finding all of their pictures and placing them in the according folder to get them ready for upload.  This is the frustrating part of the job.  Sifting through files and attempting to bottle up all of the feelings of hatred towards the PC (I’m a Mac guy); at least I’ve learned something from this.  The world can now move on because I know I made the RIGHT decision to WRITE instead of going into computers.  If I could have my way with the disorganization, frustration and mass confusion, I’d smash this computer with all its files. 

It’s coming along, though.   Every job has its busy work.  I’m also working on an article about the ride along and Chief Keese’s internship program at the Denver Police Department.  This is the fun part of the job.

Week Ten: I'm Not Just Here for the Delicious Free Food

     This week I spent condensing the success stories down.  There is a multitude of them, so it’s proving to be a time-consuming task.  I also went with some of the staff at the ELC down to interview a possible candidate for the position of ELC Director. 
     In hindsight, the Led Zeppelin t-shirt with shorts, though complimenting my sideburns and mustache well, may not have been the best option to go with here.  The feeling of being out of place becomes apparent when you choose to dress casual instead of professional.  Note to self—buy some nice shirts and slacks; always dress classy with your finest cologne (just a pinch) and apply your mustache wax evenly.  Then, if you  say something stupid, at least you’ll look like an idiot in style and people won’t just think your there for the delicious free food.   

Bessie's Hope: Helping us Listen

I didn’t know what to expect when I volunteered at the Health Center at Franklin Park (a nursing home) with the UCDenver Experiential Learning Center staff.  It seemed as if only seconds passed before I found myself kneeling in front of an elderly man sitting silently in a wheelchair.  Though he was nonverbal, I could see his mind was active.  He was sporting a Bronco’s hat and deliberating which plant would best adorn his windowsill.  He didn’t seem to notice that the plants had begun to wither; they were tinged with neglect and lacked the attention needed to bloom.  However, a bit of sunlight and water would encourage these plants to blossom.  Like these plants, just a little attention and care would encourage the people in this nursing home to flourish.

When I looked around the room littered with wheelchairs, walkers and canes, I saw people who refused to be defined by the metal that confined them.   Each individual took his or her own path to assisted living—but that was not the end of their lives.  Each remained full of life, rich with personality and brimming with valuable history to share.  The lady in the corner was wearing a Captain Morgan sweatshirt.  The man next to her couldn’t speak, but a smile clung to his face as his fingers signed with dancing determination.  The stark contrast between the long haired man decorated with tattoos—and the clean-shaven, neatly dressed man next to him emphasized the diversity and culture of acceptance within this facility.  A World War II vet sat next to a lover of hymns.  It was wonderful to see all these people from different walks of life brought together in the winter of their lives.  They had an endless vault of stories to offer the world—if the world would only listen.

             Many residents in assisted living receive few to no visits from loved ones each year.  Their lives are strictly regimented, whether it’s waiting for the next meal or the next round of Bingo.  Some might believe this is the destiny we all must face as we age.  It doesn’t have to be.  Especially when compassionate organizations like Bessie’s Hope exist to bring generations together. 

            The mission of Bessie’s Hope is to enhance the quality of life for nursing home/assisted living elders.  Bessie’s Hope achieves its purpose by bringing together generations in mutually rewarding relationships, by honoring the human spirit and by providing life-enriching volunteer opportunities for youths, families, individuals, community organizations and businesses.    

To brighten their day, Bessie’s Hope facilitates visits between people in the community and nursing home residents.  The surprise happens when volunteers realize that, they too, feel the day brighten and their hearts swell. 

              After a brief introduction between the volunteers and residents, we engaged in activities, sang songs, talked, hugged, and cheered each other up.  One particular lady, solemn and quiet, pointed a crooked finger at my facial hair and asked, “why do you have all that stuff all over your face?”  She proceeded to ask if I was married (she, herself, was not).  Her frankness was refreshing. 

I was grateful to Bessie’s Hope for providing us with such an excellent opportunity to connect with the community, learn about ourselves and others, and make a difference to a small corner of the world.   Bessie’s Hope brings out the gems in each human’s life.  These gems are not to be forgotten, but to be shared for generations to come.  Though all the residents differed in one way or another, all held one thing in common; they wanted someone to listen.  Thanks to Bessie’s Hope, we were enabled to listen.       

Week Nine: A Toothsome Cup of Article Fun

I spent much of this week going through the success stories that I already edited and condensing them down to about two paragraphs each.  I also typed out and organized the many points that I got from interviewing Chief Keesee and one of her interns about the internship program they have at the Denver Police Department (DPD).  This, along with the brainstorming of the ride along that I did, helped me begin the article about the DPD internship.  Slowly but surely, it’s coming along. 

The article-writing process is a grand mixture of the tedium, the tiresome, and the exciting.  I haven’t written an article since high school (and those were mostly creative bits), so I’m getting back to the process and learning new techniques to make the articles come alive.  I find myself mixing statistics, emotions, quotes and personal experience into the blender of my mind and trying to come out with something.  Sometimes it’s too chunky and sometimes it’s too smooth, but I’m hoping with the right combination, a toothsome cup of article fun will come out of it. 

Week Eight: I'm a Real Journalist

This week I continued to go through all of the success stories and make edits.  I also went to interview a Chief of Police at the Denver Police Department.  I walked through the doors and couldn’t help but feel like a real journalist.  I was going in there alone with slicked-back hair, box-framed glasses and a pad and pen in hand, to conduct an interview with a Chief of Police.  When asked by the guard at the front what I was there for I couldn’t help but crack a little smile inside when I replied that I’m working on an article and have an appointment to interview the Chief.

I was intimidated at first by the office, chock full of framed awards and degrees.  This quickly subsided after being introduced to the polite Chief Keesee.  The way she spoke and carried herself expressed a rare kind of assertive intelligence.  It was hard for my cramped-up hand to keep up with her million dollar answers to my questions, but I got through it alright.  I hope I can articulate this interview in a way that will do the DPD and Chief Keesee some justice (pun intended). 

Week Seven: Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do?

This week I went on a ride along with a police officer in District 13.  If you want to experience the most bipolar day of your life, just go on a ten hour long shift with a police officer.  One moment I was flying down Colfax the wrong way at high speeds—sirens blaring (now I know why that floppy little handle hanging from the roof is there).  Cops were whipping out there guns all around and I stood awkwardly behind a dumpster.  Then, in the blink of an eye, I was sitting in an office waiting for my policeman to finish his two-hour report while drooling over a book describing police procedures.  It was quite an experience, though, and I’m excited to transcribe this rollercoaster of a day into words on the page. 

 After doing this I came back and brainstormed what happened on the ride along and began thinking about how I could turn that into an article.  I set up a meeting with Chief Keesee to interview her about the Denver Police internship that she heads.  What a day, what a day!   

Week Six: Rogue Writer

I began the day by heading down to the District 13 Police Station and filling out paper work for a ride along.  I got approved and scheduled to do one on Wednesday, July 28^th from 2-12pm.  Who knew a simple Staff Writer Intern would soon be sitting shotgun in a police car as it raced down the night streets, sirens roaring and lights flashing, weaving in and out of the city buildings? 

Week Five: Chief of Police

     Today was interesting.  Tam (my direct writing supervisor and mentor) and I worked through the blurbs of the companies and made the final edit on those.  I worked through about half of the success stories left by Fred (the previous Staff Writer) and made a few minor edits in spots that needed them.  Tam and I went on a site visit to the Denver Police Administrative building and talked to Chief Tracie Keesee, who is the head of the Research, Training and Technology division.  It was very interesting to hear about their internship program the DPD has and how they accept such a wide variety of majors.  Tam and I decided that I should write a spotlight article on Chief Keesee and the program that they are running, and I will hopefully get to do a ride along for this article. 

ELC Now Hiring Dream Job Positions

Attention all UCD students, the opportunity of a lifetime is finally here: to work at the Experiential Learning Center!  Join our dream team and tackle the important work of Experiential Learning.  You can be a part of the elite!  Don't let this opportunity pass you by . . . do work that you'll love and make your resume shine! Only available for those students eligible for work study. 


What are we looking for? 


Number one:  We need a dedicated, confident, and driven individual to join our ranks as a Front Desk Assistant.  The action is all at the front desk.  Field phone calls, manage calenders and projects in this exciting position.  The front desk assistent is the short stop of the office; everything comes here first.  Requirments include: a familiarity with Microsoft Office Tools, excellent communication skills (written and verbal), a positive attitude, great work ethic, and a collaborative mode of functioning.  Become a master of the universe and join us! 


Number two:  What we need is a media wizard to join the crème de la crème Student Media Team!  As part of this team, you will provide support for the ELC website, graphic design (print/digital), video, and social media.  You will also partake in what will become the next YouTube sensation . . . the Internator Project (coming soon).  Let your creativity thrive with us and be prepared for fame and glory.  Do you have experience with design for web, flat screens, Facebook, You Tube, etc.?  How about experience in web design basics, video basics (editing, motion graphics, Final Cut), social media and Adobe CS4?  Then WE WANT YOU!  Make history and join our team! 


Think that your up to the challenge?  Contact Tony Smith at (303) 556-2253 or email him at tony.smith@ucdenver.edu.  Better yet, stop by our office located in the Tivoli Student Center Suite 260

Week Four: Training Complete

          This week I spent the majority of the time working on the short blurbs I wrote about nine different companies.  I researched their various “about me” sections and mission statements, wrote short, 5-7 sentence paragraphs about each one and edited them once over.  Along with this, I printed out the certificates of the trainings that I did last week.  The only question left is where to hang this beautiful “Training Completion” certificate?

Week Three: Technical Difficulties

     Today, I got online to complete my trainings and found the computer wasn’t working.  I called IT multiple times only to find out that I will have to wait even longer to get the training done.  I then attempted to print something, but had to call the tech guys back (waiting on hold once again) to try and map my computer to print.  I have to wait for a tech guy to come out this Thursday to fix that problem.                   
     That aside, I did email Kris to get a list of people who I will be writing an article on (I’m excited to finally start writing after all the technical issues).  I read up on some more internship, co-op, and service learning material.  I looked through the student Intern files and took out some important information including interview question examples (which I compiled, typed up, and put in the Staff Writer File).  I also planned out my “Staff Writer” portfolio and ordered a very sharp-looking binder and fifteen colorful tabs to put in it.   

Week Two: I'm a Mac Man

Welcome to my journal!  Tracking a day in the life of an intern . . .

   

    Not only did I re-learn the complexities of the PC in all its slowness (I’m a Mac man), but I also learned many valuable things about how the Experiential Learning Center operates.  I read the FAQ’s, got my password information set up, and familiarized myself with the staff writer files.  I tracked down a few of the faculty members here and asked them what their job entails.  Through this, I started to get to know some of the people around the office.  I also saw how extensive the ELC web is.  I learned about advising, internships, volunteering, research . . . I even started asking myself, “what does this place not do?”  Overall, I learned a ton about the Learning Center and how it functions and I’m excited to contribute (as well as take advantage of the resources).    

Upcoming Volunteer Fair

“All of us have it within our power to get off the bench, get into the game, and make a lasting contribution to this nation."

–President Barack Obama, February 9^th, 2009  

• WHO: The ELC Along with Over 30 Organizations
• WHAT: The ELC hosts the UCD Volunteer Fair every   semester.  What does this mean?  It means that over 30 organizations will be on our campus connecting with students, faculty and staff.  Service coordinators from all of these organizations will be on hand to provide all of us with important part-time service opportunites.  What are you interested in?  You'll find it at the UC Volunteer Fair . . . it's the place to be!
• WHEN: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 from 10:30am-3:00pm
•  WHERE: North Classroom Atrium, Auraria Campus

For more information about this wonderful event, contact the ELC Service Coordinator, Kyra Tarbell. 

Week One: New Guy

Welcome to my journal!  Tracking a day in the life of an intern . . .

    Today was my first day.  I got oriented and met some new people around the Experiential Learning Center.  I attempted to find a faculty sponsor, but found that contacting faculty over the summer is not an easy task.  I then sat down to read about the internship process, and I was surprised to find out how extensive it is.  From a company’s standpoint, the argument for hiring interns seems overwhelming because of how cost-beneficial they are.  I never knew there was so much that went into internships. 

    There is a lot of material to learn, but I’m excited to meet new people, learn about the way the Learning Center operates, but most of all—start writing.

The Imaginarium of Dr. ELC

                In today’s ever-changing and highly-competitive job market, experience is becoming more and more important.  How many people, with a hot-off-the-press degree, complain about the hardships of finding a job without experience?  What if I told you there is a way you can get that experience, while still in school, so you can graduate with a hot-off-the-press degree and a pocketful of valuable experience?