Bridges Beyond the Classroom

Bridges Beyond the Classroom, the framework for the academic initiative, articulates our University’s experiential learning goals for its students and creation of a portfolio that tracks performance of every graduate inside and outside of the classroom.

Experiential Learning: What exactly does it mean?

Experiential learning puts students at the center of the university’s value to its community and region.

Another Culture, Another World: UTC students experience China

A group of 11 UTC students recently took a study abroad trip to China, learning about the people, the culture, the social structure and how the country is different from the United States.

Summer Bridge: Students building connections to the community

Twenty-seven incoming freshmen take part in UTC’s Summer Bridge program, a five-week crash course of credit-earning classes, campus tours, community service and, yes, just plain fun.

Goal 1 of the UTC Strategic Plan seeks to Transform lives through meaningful learning experiences. Experiential learning provides a compass for all academic departments to identify ways to extend the classroom experience, so every UTC student has opportunities for hands-on learning in their area of study.

A campus and community-wide survey on experiential learning received an overall positive reaction. Its effectiveness will come from greater definition, implementation and measurable impact that adds increased value to a UTC degree and more opportunities for UTC graduates.

Topline finds from the survey:

UTC has a strong academic platform that includes classroom instruction linked with external opportunities.

The overall UTC experience can be better defined and reinforced.

There are distinctive programs in the Colleges of Business and Engineering & Computer Science and the Nursing program.

Opportunities exist to better define a UTC education across the campus.

Areas of excellence should be stressed: provide information that differentiates a UTC education and promote the University’s external relationships, such as with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Innovation District in Chattanooga and the MetroLab Network.

Survey results also indicated perceived inequities across the campus when considering collaborative learning. Some departments offer courses that link the classroom with an external learning experience, but these opportunities do not exist campus-wide. Finding the best ways to bridge these experiential learning gaps is an important step for discussion among our faculty, staff and students.

Survey respondents identified these points as enhancing the educational experience for UTC students through experiential learning:

Applying critical thinking, problem solving, big picture issues
Combining collaborative experiences among academic departments
Knowing how to help solve business, industry, non-profit, government and other sectors’ problems
Offering an immersive experience

Survey numbers show that applied learning experience is a critical component of a UTC degree. These learning experiences develop the whole person, provide an education grounded with real world experiences, community-connected learning and the opportunity to work in a diverse setting.

Assessing the survey, the demographics reflect a greater number of female respondents, a majority of respondents were in the 18-24 age group and 82% were UTC students, faculty or staff. The other survey numbers are:

Survey Results

**Gender:**
Female	58.63%	292
Male	37.95%	189
No Response	3.41%	17

**Classification (can select more than one category):**
**Note:** 82.13% from faculty, staff & students
Faculty	20.10%	117
Staff	15.64%	91
Alumni	8.59%	50
Community Member	8.76%	51
Student	46.39%	270
Elected Official	0.52%	3

**Age:**
Under 18	1.97%	10
18-24	42.01%	213
25-34	11.64%	59
35-44	12.62%	64
45-54	14.99%	76
55-64	11.64%	59
65-74	4.73%	24
75-84	0.39%	2

**What is UTC known for? (select 2)**
Top tier teaching	10.57%	71
Community-connected learning	29.02%	195
Applied problem solving	11.31%	76
Cross-department & college learning	9.08%	61
Transformational learning	5.21%	35
Private liberal arts education at public institution	10.86%	73
None of the options	10.71%	72
Other	13.24%	89

**What should define a UTC education? (select 3)**
Hands-on learning	15.38%	155
Beyond classroom experience	18.15%	183
Freshman experience	4.86%	49
Teams/bridge building	3.97%	40
City/region learning labs for students	12.40%	125
Learning experiences to develop whole person to prepare for profession or advanced studies	20.83%	210
Education in real world grounded experiences/opportunities	20.44%	206
Unsure	3.97%	40

Bridge between classroom and external, applied learning experience provides UTC students with broader portfolio, creates peer-to-peer interactions and encourages problem solving in a team setting.
Which point describes the experiences? (Select 2)
Face-to-face interaction	19.64%	132
Positive interdependence helps students learn how to rely on others	7.14%	48
Each person accountable for results	12.35%	83
Learning to work together is a lesson in collaboration	15.92%	107
Group processing assists in understanding assignments & responsibilities	5.06%	34
Working in diverse setting is learning tool for future	25.00%	168
Creating individual portfolio adds value to UTC degree	14.88%	100

**Would you participate in a 20-30 person learning community that included students on track toward the same major and with a common faculty interface?**
Yes	73.33%	110
No	26.67%	40