Experiential Learning Summit
A Campus-Wide Summit on Experiential Learning
The Experiential Learning Summit is an annual cross-campus gathering that brings together faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students to strengthen UCSC’s long tradition of hands-on, community-engaged, and field-based learning. Each year, the summit provides space to share expertise, identify needs for pedagogical support, and address structural barriers that shape access to experiential opportunities. By aligning definitions, building collaboration across divisions, and setting shared goals, the summit advances UCSC’s leadership in experiential learning practice and pedagogy while charting a path for its continued growth.
Fall 2025 Event
November 7, 2025, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Registration for this event was by invitation.
The Fall 2025 Experiential Learning Summit built on the vision and recommendations from last year’s gathering. This year’s cross-campus, collaborative working meeting focused on:
- Tackling structural and policy barriers – identifying and addressing levers such as course codes, financial aid rules, summer access, work authorization, and other factors affecting EL participation.
- Expanding visibility and equitable access – developing strategies to increase student and faculty awareness of EL opportunities and ensure all students can participate fully.
- Growing resources and collaboration – exploring grant opportunities, shared initiatives, and ongoing networks that support and scale EL across campus.
A summary report will be added to this page when available.
Outcomes from the Inaugural Summit
Our inaugural Experiential Learning Summit in Fall 2024 generated a set of campus-wide priorities to guide future work. Key recommendations included:
- Creating regular opportunities for cross-campus collaboration
- Addressing administrative and curricular barriers to EL
- Building centralized resources to make EL opportunities more visible and accessible
- Expanding paid EL opportunities to support equity
- Increasing recognition and support for EL work