Allegheny College is one of 25 institutions nationwide accepted into the Council of Independent Colleges’ (CIC) inaugural cohort of their Work-Based Learning Consortium.
The consortium will support institutions in easing barriers to internship access and job market preparation, particularly for students from underrepresented groups.
“Allegheny College is honored and excited to participate in this opportunity. It directly aligns with our goal of helping students tell their stories of how an Allegheny education builds the skills and competencies that will serve them throughout their lives,” says Jennifer Dearden, senior associate provost and professor of music.
In partnership with Riipen, this experiential learning platform will integrate real-world, employer-designed projects into existing courses, equipping students with relevant experiences and professional connections to support their future careers.
Experiential learning is integrated into Allegheny’s curriculum across all academic programs. This multi-year program will launch in Spring 2024 through a collaboration of Allegheny faculty, career and professional development staff, and the provost’s office.
“Our partnership in this project supports faculty across the curriculum in empowering our students and connecting the liberal arts with career readiness,” said Dearden.
About Allegheny College: Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation’s oldest and most innovative four-year colleges where multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold. It is one of the few colleges in the United States with a unique requirement to choose both a major and minor for graduation, to provide students with a cross-disciplinary path in the sciences and humanities for educational depth and intellectual growth. Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives.” In its 2022 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College in its Top 20 Schools for Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects and the Top 25 Most Innovative National Liberal Arts Colleges.
About CIC: The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help independent institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.
About Riipen: Riipen is a work-based learning platform helping educators, organizations, and learners collaborate on real industry projects to bridge the gap between higher education and employment. With a network of 27,000+ employers and trusted by 430 academic institutions and training providers, Riipen helps educators integrate real-employer projects into program curriculum leading to improved student engagement and employability outcomes.
