3. Fund a budget line for student and faculty experiential learning / High Impact Practice opportunities, including conferences



Initiative Title3. Fund a budget line for student and faculty experiential learning / High Impact Practice opportunities, including conferences
Submitted in Previous Year(s)2017
Critical Information, Notes, Justification, Rationale

Students and faculty should have funds available to participate in conferences and other forms of professional development.  Without funds, most cannot afford to attend, particularly students. While faculty might receive minimal funds from their home departments to attend professional development opportunities appropriate to their home departments, these would not be used for IDS opportunities.  

If we can develop several other low cost offerings (i.e. eportfolios, service learning, leadership and internships) and opportunities, students and faculty may well increase submission of papers to conferences and need means by which to pay for this.

Consequences of this initiative not being funded

No funds are consistently allocated for these purposes.  Attending means travel, food, conference fees, poster printing, and hotel in some cases. Most students cannot afford to to do this without assistance.  Offsetting student costs and even mentor costs might encourage more faculty to work with students and students to submit and attend.

Department GoalsExplore and expand course offerings as appropriate, including DESIJ opportunities, Provide annual funding for students & faculty to participate in conferences and other experiential learning and community-building opportunities, Increase enrollment and retention in IDS and HUM courses, Explore ways to add eportfolio and internship opportunities for students
Programs
LocationsMain Campus, Newburgh Campus
Estimated Completion Date
Will this initiative span multiple budget years?No
ImportanceHigh
Funding SourceRequest for Prioritization
Created11/06/2025 3:45 pm
Updated11/06/2025 4:21 pm

Institutional Goals

Goal How will the initiative support this institutional goal?
Experiential learning and High Impact Practices (including conferences) afford students the opportunity to showcase their work, network, and gain important skills for life, transfer, and work. Providing funding allows students to participate without worry about funding--thereby not leaving out those with less means. We are expanding access and adding to the student experience.
Experiential learning and High Impact Practices (including conferences) afford students the opportunity to showcase their work, network, and gain important skills for life, transfer, and work. Providing funding allows students to participate without worry about funding--thereby not leaving out those with less means. We are expanding access and adding to the student experience. Some funding for faculty allows them to mentor students (and accompany them to showcase their work) and create new opportunities for themselves and their students.
Experiential learning and High Impact Practices (including conferences) afford students the opportunity to showcase their work, network, and gain important skills for life, transfer, and work. Providing funding allows students to participate without worry about funding--thereby not leaving out those with less means. We are expanding access and adding to the student experience. Students may be more willing to engage in research, etc. if they see multiple means by which to demonstrate what they have learned.
Experiential learning and High Impact Practices (including conferences) afford students the opportunity to showcase their work, network, and gain important skills for life, transfer, and work. Providing funding allows students to participate without worry about funding--thereby not leaving out those with less means. We are expanding access and adding to the student experience. Some funding for faculty allows them to mentor students (and accompany them to showcase their work) and create new opportunities for themselves and their students.
Experiential learning and High Impact Practices (including conferences) afford students the opportunity to showcase their work, network, and gain important skills for life, transfer, and work. Providing funding allows students to participate without worry about funding--thereby not leaving out those with less means. We are expanding access and adding to the student experience. These experiences provide clear connections between academic and professional/community life.
Experiential learning and High Impact Practices (including conferences) afford students the opportunity to showcase their work, network, and gain important skills for life, transfer, and work. Providing funding allows students to participate without worry about funding--thereby not leaving out those with less means. We are expanding access and adding to the student experience. These experiences provide clear connections between academic and professional/community life.

Action Steps

Action Step Responsible Party Order
Fund an experiential learning line that is part of the annual operating budget Whoever funds the initiative; IDS Chair then works with the business office to make it part of the operating budget 1
Work with faculty to identify High Impact Practices and experiential learning options to incorporate into classes IDS Chair 2
Seek opportunities for conferences IDS Advisory Board 3
Encourage participation in conferences and internships Interdisciplinary Studies 4
Assist with conference proposal preparation and submission IDS Advisory Board 5
Once conference participants are chosen, assist with prep, including making travel arrangements IDS Advisory Board, Honors clerical person 6
Submit all travel paperwork IDS chair 7
Submit Press Release of participants IDS Advisory Board 8

Expected Outcomes

Outcome Order
Increased experiential learning for students 1
Increased participation in conferences and community outreach 2
Increased awareness of and publicity for students and institution 3

Assessment Methods

Method Description Other Method Responsible Party
Other Enter other assessment method Survey of participants Interdisciplinary Studies and Honors Program depts

Resources

INITIAL YEAR COST: $10,000.00
RECURRING COST: $10,000.00

Equipment

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
TOTAL: $0.00 / $0.00

Facility

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
TOTAL: $0.00 / $0.00

Supply

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
TOTAL: $0.00 / $0.00

Staffing

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
Staff to travel with students $0.00 / 0.00 (1st year)
  • Honors Program
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
TOTAL: $0.00 / $0.00

Training

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
TOTAL: $0.00 / $0.00

Marketing

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
TOTAL: $0.00 / $0.00

Other

Need Cost (Initial/Recurring) Supporting Departments
Conference fee funds $4500.00 / 4500.00 (1st year)
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
Travel money (hotel, travel means and food) $5500.00 / 5500.00 (1st year)
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
TOTAL: $10,000.00 / $10,000.00

Prioritization

This is initiative is ready for prioritization.

Assessment

DateDepartment NameStatusCost to DateFunding Source 
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