The following projects constitute the core of the work being done by St. Jerome's University as part of our CASTL participation:
uPods
This is a first-year transition program that partners small groups of first-year students (ten to twelve per group) with a member of the St. Jerome's staff or faculty, who serves as a mentor/guide throughout the first year of university. The uPods are communities for discussion, activities, and the provision of information about workshops, programs, academic guidelines, personal supports, etc. for students.
Intercordia and beyond borders initiatives
Intercordia is an international service and learning program that prepares students for three-month living and working placements in developing nations through academic courses and personal guided reflection. As we continue our involvement in Intercordia, we are planning other types of service and learning experiences with an international immersion component.
Practicum courses
We have recently added a practicum course to our program in Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies. The course is designed to directly apply classroom theoretical concepts in a workplace experience. The practicum course contains a service aspect in that students can provide their developing skills in real workplace settings while cultivating and honing those skills.
e-portfolios
As we identify various learning outcomes as part of the educational experience at St. Jerome's, we are working on implementing the use of electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) in promoting engaged student learning and to provide a tool for reflection and documentation for students.
