Experiential Learning Resources

Welcome!

On this page you have the opportunity to take a deeper dive into a competency quadrant (Communication, Intrapersonal Awareness & Development, Interpersonal Skills & Intercultural Knowledge or Ways of Thinking) that you are looking to improve or learn more about.

By interacting with this page, you are beginning the “Find Experiences” step in the cycle of developing your leadership and professional development competencies. Expand each of the competency sets below to learn more and browse for opportunities that interest you.

Communication

You have access to an array of opportunities to learn, practice, demonstrate and apply effective communication strategies. When strengthening communication skills becomes a priority, individuals and constituents will benefit greatly.

Listen & Observe
Hearing what is being said and observing nonverbal cues to prevent miscommunication, promote understanding, gather and receive feedback, and demonstrate a sense of caring about what others want to communicate.
Nonverbal Communication
Using body language, gestures, other cues, and visual aids to support the conveyance of meaning.
Summarize & Distill Information
Selecting, sorting, and combining information in order to capture and reflect on important facts, concepts, and processes leading to increased comprehension and the ability to convey information in a concise and coherent manner.
Verbal/Sign Communication
Using spoken and/or signed communication to share information with others one-on-one, in a small groups, and/or in front of a large audience in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
Written Communication
Using written formats to share information with others in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.

Resources

Looking for ways to develop your communication skills? Check out some of the opportunities available to you below to improve and develop your communication skills.

  • Leadership & Professional Development Competencies Self-Guided Learning(Brightspace Course)
    • Employers expect students to graduate with both career specific knowledge and well developed abilities related to such areas as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, analytical reasoning, and continuous learning. This course offers self-guided learning modules to help students (1) understand employer expectations and (2) develop a strategy to meet those expectations. Each learning module focuses on a specific competency that has been identified in cooperation with employers. The competencies are also linked to the university’s embedded and foundational learning outcomes.
  • The Purdue Writing Lab
    • The Writing Lab is open to all Purdue students, faculty, and staff on the West Lafayette campus. You must present your PUID card at the time of your appointment. We update the Writing Lab pages often, and we hope you check back to get the information you need.
  • The Purdue Online Writing Lab
    • The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.
  • Brian Lamb School of Communication
    • The Lamb School of Communication continues Purdue's strong tradition of communication scholarship, providing excellent graduate and undergraduate education while supporting the values of Brian Lamb, including a commitment to openness in communication and public affairs. In addition to these commitments, the School is committed to building bridges to the media industry and to partnering with the C-SPAN Archives which are located in Purdue's Research Park.
  • Daniels School of Business Center for Business Communication
    • The Center for Business Communication promotes the creation and delivery of quality and quantity experiential learning activities providing opportunities for students to practice communication, teamwork, problem solving and professionalism.The Center for Business Communication partners with industry leaders and across Purdue's campus to enable students to participate in signature-learning opportunities outside the classroom. There are case competitions, workshops, resources, and research opportunities available on their website.
  • Center for Career Opportunities and Pre-Professional Advising
    • The Center for Career Opportunities informs and empowers students and graduates using transformative career services, innovative technologies and collaborative synergies to connect with professional opportunities within Indiana, the United States and the world.
  • Student Employment
    • The staff in Purdue’s Student Employment Services is here to assist you in finding part-time work to help pay for some of your college expenses. Of course, earning money is the primary reason for getting a job. But there are many more benefits when you work during college. Working 8-12 hours per week while in school actually has been shown to help academic achievement. The workplace is a great way to meet people. While on the job you'll be able to take on new responsibilities and develop practical skills like time management, problem solving and organization. You might even make professional contacts for after graduation. Plus, working looks really good on your resume!
  • Careers at Purdue Dining & Culinary
    • Looking for a paycheck, real-world work experience, and a flexible schedule that fits your busy life? Purdue Dining & Culinary offers students all of these things and more, boosting your bank account while giving you valuable experience that employers are looking for after graduation.
  • Student Employment at Recreation & Wellness
    • In order to work for Recreation and Wellness, visit the Student Employment website and fill out a job application. Not sure which area you are interested in? Check out the many jobs we have available at Recreation and Wellness by visiting our website.
  • Purdue Course Listing
    • The catalog has a complete list of approved Purdue West Lafayette courses that may be used for meeting foundational learning outcomes.

 For specific resources, search the Experiences Database


Self-Awareness (Intrapersonal Awareness & Development)

Understanding yourself and committing to improving your skills and abilities will contribute to your awareness and personal development. Taking personal responsibility, understanding how to be resilient and having strong abilities to take initiative display that you can be relied on.

Continuous Learning
Committing to constant expansion and improvement of skills, abilities, knowledge and understanding by adopting continuous learning strategies (e.g., seeking feedback, observing others, exploring alternatives, practicing current skills, seeking training and education, etc.).
Initiative & Follow Through
Taking charge of a situation either individually to fill a need or motivating others to take action. Completing tasks without having to be followed-up with or reminded and can be relied upon and trusted to carry out commitments.
Personal Responsibility
Accepting ownership for not meeting expectations or achieving desired outcomes, receives feedback from others and is able to consider it in order to develop competencies and effectiveness.
Resiliency
Facing challenges, adversity, and major setbacks and learning from the experience, take corrective action, and rise to the next challenge.
Self-Understanding
Understanding one’s beliefs, values, culture, actions, personality, strengths, and weaknesses.

Resources

Looking for ways to improve your intrapersonal awareness & development? Check out some of the opportunities available to you below:

  • Leadership & Professional Development Competencies Self-Guided Learning(Brightspace Course)
    • Employers expect students to graduate with both career specific knowledge and well developed abilities related to such areas as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, analytical reasoning, and continuous learning. This course offers self-guided learning modules to help students (1) understand employer expectations and (2) develop a strategy to meet those expectations. Each learning module focuses on a specific competency that has been identified in cooperation with employers. The competencies are also linked to the university’s embedded and foundational learning outcomes.
  • Counseling & Psychological Services - Apps and Online Digital Resources
    • Enhance your personal responsibility, resiliency, and self-understanding skills through getting involved with the resources CAPS has to offer.
  • Academic Success Center - Peer Success Coaching
    • Attending an ASC workshop is a great way to jump-start the process of achieving your goals. Workshops at the ASC are designed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges student’s face today, facilitated by our relatable and energetic ASC Staff and Ambassadors, an interactive and engaging way to enhance your learning skills, a low-pressure, group learning environment and typically 50 minutes but can be adjusted by request.
  • Student Employment
    • The staff in Purdue’s Student Employment Services is here to assist you in finding part-time work to help pay for some of your college expenses. Of course, earning money is the primary reason for getting a job. But there are many more benefits when you work during college. Working 8-12 hours per week while in school actually has been shown to help academic achievement. The workplace is a great way to meet people. While on the job you'll be able to take on new responsibilities and develop practical skills like time management, problem solving and organization. You might even make professional contacts for after graduation. Plus, working looks really good on your resume!
  • Careers at Purdue Dining & Culinary
    • Looking for a paycheck, real-world work experience, and a flexible schedule that fits your busy life? Purdue Dining & Culinary offers students all of these things and more, boosting your bank account while giving you valuable experience that employers are looking for after graduation.
  • Student Employment at Recreation & Wellness
    • In order to work for Recreation and Wellness, visit the Student Employment website and fill out a job application. Not sure which area you are interested in? Check out the many jobs we have available at Recreation and Wellness on our website.
  • Student Activities & Organizations
    • SAO aims to engage students in intentional co-curricular learning experiences, acts as a catalyst for personal growth and provides resources that enrich the campus community.
  • Purdue Course Listing
    • The catalog has a complete list of approved Purdue West Lafayette courses that may be used for meeting foundational learning outcomes.

 For specific resources, search the Experiences Database


Collaboration (Interpersonal Skills & Intercultural Knowledge)

Essential to successful leadership, your ability to maintain appropriate and productive relationships presents your ability to understand organizational behavior. Understanding how diverse perspectives can influence groups and individuals and the importance of social responsibility will assist you with development towards being an engaged citizen in any organization, community or group you are a part of.

Organizational Behavior
Understanding how groups develop; anticipation, navigating, mitigating, and responding to behaviors of a group and the people in it to foster group development to enhance the group's efficiency and effectiveness.
Appropriate & Productive Relationships
Assessing a situation and engaging in interactions, relations, and exchanges based on what is suitable for the context and person or people involved. Cultivating connections or associations with others that contribute positively to the well-being of those involved.
Helping Others & Working Together
Understanding the importance teamwork has for the effectiveness of groups and organizations and using that understanding to foster a culture of helping others and collaboration.
Cultural Intelligence & Inclusion
Understanding how diverse perspectives, backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, experiences and/or historical dynamics can influence groups and individuals and enhance a group's effectiveness; acting to foster an environment in which people feel welcomed, valued, free to share viewpoints, contribute to a cause or task, or simply have a sense of belonging.
Service & Social Responsibility
Understanding the rights and obligations one has as a citizen in communities, nations, and the world; how cultural, social, and historical dynamic influence groups and individuals; and how engaging in responsible decision-making, ethical actions, and meaningful service enhances the welfaire of society and its members.

Resources

Looking for ways to improve your intrapersonal awareness & development? Check out some of the opportunities available to you below:

Service and Social Responsibility
  • Purdue Engineering EPICS
    • EPICS is a unique program in which teams of undergraduates are designing, building, and deploying real systems to solve engineering-based problems for local community service and education organizations. EPICS was founded at Purdue University in Fall 1995 and has since spread to a diverse group of Universities in the United States and abroad, as well as to a number of k12 programs.
  • Center for Advocacy, Response & Education
    • Get educated about social responsibility topics such as power-based personal violence 101, supporting a survivor, boiler up & intervene and more.
  • Air Force ROTC
    • Welcome to Purdue University - Detachment 220, home of the Boilermakers. Det. 220 is comprised of nearly 200 future Air Force and Space Force leaders and boasts a scope of operations unmatched at most universities with Air Force ROTC programs. Our proud tradition of excellence in training and officer development provides cadets with vital leadership skills not found in the classroom. Each year, Purdue consistently commissions 15+ rated positions such as pilot and combat systems officer, along with a variety of other career fields. From generals to astronauts, Det 220 has forged warrior leaders that have been recognized nationally for their outstanding accomplishments.
  • Army ROTC
    • Army ROTC is an elective curriculum you take along with your required college classes. It prepares you with the tools, training and experiences that will help you succeed in any competitive environment. Along with great leadership training, Army ROTC can pay for your college tuition, and provide other monetary benefits. The best part of the ROTC program is that it allows you to have a normal college student experience like everyone else on campus, but when you graduate, you will be a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
  • Naval ROTC
    • Welcome to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and the Naval Science Department of Purdue University! Challenges await you in the NROTC program. We are committed to providing the very best qualified officers for service in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. To attain this goal, we focus on academics, leadership, physical readiness and community involvement. We provide students with the skills necessary to succeed, not only as naval officers, but more importantly, as citizens of this great country.
Helping Others & Collaboration
  • College of Education Certificate in Collaborative Leadership (Undergraduate Students)
    • Collaborative leadership is the process through which leaders, guided by self-knowledge and interpersonal awareness, facilitate and empower the potential of diverse individuals and groups through enhanced understanding of factors such as individual motivation, interpersonal skills, and group dynamics. The undergraduate Certificate in Collaborative Leadership (CCL) is open to students campus-wide and consists of 3-credit bearing courses.
  • Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life Programs
    • Fraternity, Sorority And Cooperative Leadership Institute, Fraternity, Sorority & Cooperative Leadership Summit, CPLA, Cooperative Housing Leadership Conference, Cooperative Housing New Member Education Night, New Member Orientation.
Organizational Behavior & Teamwork
  • Polytechnic Institute Organizational Leadership Minor
    • A minor in organizational leadership will expose you to current issues in leadership and how organizations operate. The knowledge and skills you learn from these classes will be beneficial in any career after graduation.
  • University Residences Learning Communities
    • Through learning communities, you have a great opportunity to connect with other students who share your interests and get to know faculty. Students who participate in a learning community earn higher grades and have increased exposure to university resources and the Greater Lafayette community.
  • Recreation & Wellness Intramural Sports
    • Intramural Sports (also known as IMs) are one of the most popular ways to get involved on-campus with your fellow Boilermakers. The IM program provides the opportunity for individual, dual, and/or team leagues, tournaments, and events in more than 40 sport offerings! Be one of 18,000+ students that participates in sports like basketball, flag football, sand volleyball, soccer, softball & more. Compete and earn a signature championship t-shirt.
  • Recreation & Wellness
    • Here at Purdue RecWell, we aren’t here to just get people in shape. We’re here to shape people. And to shape a community. We’re a team on a mission to build minds as well as bodies. A team who believes in helping people thrive in life. We have no interest in being average and we’re not afraid to fail. We believe in making wellness a priority. And it shows. We believe human capital is our most important asset. And worth the investment. We are committed to inclusion, we believe that diversity inspires creativity and that every Boilermaker should have access to recreation and wellness.
  • Purdue Musical Organizations
    • Our students form lifelong friendships while performing more than 100 shows each year including the Purdue Christmas Show, which is presented annually to a live audience of more than 18,000 and reaches millions more through broadcasts on public television and radio networks.
      Beyond the music, PMO teaches life lessons not always covered in the classroom and becomes a home away from home for the students who give so generously of their time and talents. PMO maintains high academic standards, provides students with once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunities and offers more than $350,000 in scholarships each year.
  • Center for Career Opportunities and Pre-Professional Advising
    • The Center for Career Opportunities informs and empowers students and graduates using transformative career services, innovative technologies and collaborative synergies to connect with professional opportunities within Indiana, the United States and the world.
  • Student Employment
    • The staff in Purdue’s Student Employment Services is here to assist you in finding part-time work to help pay for some of your college expenses. Of course, earning money is the primary reason for getting a job. But there are many more benefits when you work during college. Working 8-12 hours per week while in school actually has been shown to help academic achievement. The workplace is a great way to meet people. While on the job you'll be able to take on new responsibilities and develop practical skills like time management, problem solving and organization. You might even make professional contacts for after graduation. Plus working looks really good on your resume!
  • Careers at Purdue Dining & Culinary
    • Looking for a paycheck, real-world work experience, and a flexible schedule that fits your busy life? Purdue Dining & Culinary offers students all of these things and more, boosting your bank account while giving you valuable experience that employers are looking for after graduation.
  • Student Employment at Recreation & Wellness
    • In order to work for Recreation and Wellness, visit the Student Employment website and fill out a job application.  Not sure which area you are interested in?  Check out the many jobs we have available at Recreation and Wellness below.
Cultural Intelligence & Inclusion
  • Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center
    • The AAARCC brings Asian and Asian American experiences to life through programming, networking, and advocacy efforts that are focused on enriching the Purdue experience for all members of our campus community. Our center is open to people of all identities and interests.
  • Black Cultural Center
    • Purdue University's Black Cultural Center is a vibrant element of University life, offering a wealth of programs and services for the entire campus community. We bring together the wonderful diversity of the Purdue family by nurturing and presenting the rich heritage of the African American experience through art, history and cultural understanding. The center sponsors outstanding student performing arts ensembles in dance drama, choral music and creative writing. We also house a special collections library, a computer lab, and student organization office and meeting space.
  • Latino Cultural Center
    • The Purdue University Latino Cultural Center creates an inclusive environment for the entire campus community, fostering meaningful dialogue and cultural understanding of Latinx communities. We support Latinx faculty and staff while we recruit, retain and empower Latinx students to succeed, giving them a sense of belonging until graduation and beyond.
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center
    • The LGBTQ Center is the primary point of contact for members of the LGBTQ community as it works collaboratively with campus departments, student organizations, University administration and local community groups to connect students with the enriching resources, activities and support services they seek in order to be successful at Purdue and beyond.
  • Native American Educational and Cultural Center
    • The NAECC was created to develop new generations of educated Native students who will make positive contributions in their tribal communities and to educate non-Natives who will appreciate Indigenous cultures, histories, and traditions. The foundation of the NAECC is credited to Native graduate students and Native and non-Native faculty and staff who collaborated to form the Tecumseh Project. 
Multidisciplinary
  • Leadership & Professional Development Competencies Self-Guided Learning(Brightspace Course)
    • Employers expect students to graduate with both career specific knowledge and well developed abilities related to such areas as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, analytical reasoning, and continuous learning. This course offers self-guided learning modules to help students (1) understand employer expectations and (2) develop a strategy to meet those expectations. Each learning module focuses on a specific competency that has been identified in cooperation with employers. The competencies are also linked to the university’s embedded and foundational learning outcomes.
  • Purdue Study Abroad
    • Studying abroad is serious business! First, you will be earning credits and grades that will go toward your graduation requirements. Second, you will want to fulfill personal objectives and will have to plan to achieve these goals. Finally, you will be investing serious time, effort, and money on this venture. Thus, it’s imperative that you choose a program that will allow you to get a sound return on the investments. Get started by visiting their website. Also, check out the intercultural knowledge you'll gain and its effectiveness from studying abroad.
  • Student Activities & Organizations
    • SAO aims to engage students in intentional co-curricular learning experiences, acts as a catalyst for personal growth and provides resources that enrich the campus community.
  • Purdue Course Listing
    • This website has a complete list of approved Purdue West Lafayette courses that may be used for meeting foundational learning outcomes. 

Ways of Thinking

In any role you serve in, you will face decision-making and problem-solving circumstances. The ability to generate ideas and solutions while maintaining ethical behavior is important to fulfilling your responsibilities. Having a high level of analytical reasoning and systems thinking and planning will assist you in your development towards stronger ways of thinking skills.

Decision-Making & Problem-Solving
Defines a problem or issue; identifies its potential causes; specifies a desired outcome; employs critical, practical, and creative thinking skills to generate possible solutions; and identifies and implements effective criteria for choosing amongst possible solutions.
Ethics
Understanding standards and expectations for personal and professional ethical behavior by acting in accord with an appropriate set of social norms, beliefs, and cultural values (e.g., trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship). Considers implications of actions and shows an awareness of the need to hold one’s self to a higher standard.
Idea Generation
Developing new and/or novel ideas through critical thinking and creative processes that address issues and/or lead to change.
Reflection & Analytical Reasoning
Considering the past and learning from successes and failures –own and others’ – to understand a situation, strategies used, and the impact of decisions. Employing critical, practical, and creative thinking skills within an ethical framework to connect disparate information; understanding the context of the situation from multiple perspectives; synthesizing information; being open-minded and flexible while considering multiple possible solutions.
Systems Thinking & Planning
Identifying tasks and setting deadlines to design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer questions or achieve desired goals. Assessing a situation, organization, or network through examination of the linkages, interconnections, and/or interactions of it component parts – both internal and external – to better understand how it works, to be able to navigate through ripple effects of others’ decisions, and to make decisions that consider impact on a larger network or system.

Resources

Looking for ways to improve your ways of thinking? Check out some of the opportunities available to you below:

  • Leadership & Professional Development Competencies Self-Guided Learning(Brightspace Course)
    • Employers expect students to graduate with both career specific knowledge and well developed abilities related to such areas as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, analytical reasoning, and continuous learning. This course offers self-guided learning modules to help students (1) understand employer expectations and (2) develop a strategy to meet those expectations. Each learning module focuses on a specific competency that has been identified in cooperation with employers. The competencies are also linked to the university’s embedded and foundational learning outcomes.
  • Office of Undergraduate Research
    • Discover first-hand how research contributes to the advancement of human knowledge. Experience a change of pace from formal classroom activities and gain skills applicable to both research and non-research careers. Studies show that students who engage in research are more likely to graduate, more likely to go on to graduate school, and have more successful careers after graduation.
  • Center for Career Opportunities and Pre-Professional Advising
    • The Center for Career Opportunities informs and empowers students and graduates using transformative career services, innovative technologies and collaborative synergies to connect with professional opportunities within Indiana, the United States and the world.
  • Student Employment
    • The staff in Purdue’s Student Employment Services is here to assist you in finding part-time work to help pay for some of your college expenses. Of course, earning money is the primary reason for getting a job. But there are many more benefits when you work during college. Working 8-12 hours per week while in school actually has been shown to help academic achievement. The workplace is a great way to meet people. While on the job you'll be able to take on new responsibilities and develop practical skills like time management, problem solving and organization. You might even make professional contacts for after graduation. Plus, working looks really good on your resume!
  • Careers at Purdue Dining & Culinary
    • Looking for a paycheck, real-world work experience, and a flexible schedule that fits your busy life? Purdue Dining & Culinary offers students all of these things and more, boosting your bank account while giving you valuable experience that employers are looking for after graduation.
  • Student Employment at Recreation & Wellness
    • In order to work for Recreation and Wellness, visit the Student Employment website and fill out a job application.  Not sure which area you are interested in?  Check out the many jobs we have available at Recreation and Wellness below.
  • Student Activities and Organizations
    • SAO aims to engage students in intentional co-curricular learning experiences, acts as a catalyst for personal growth and provides resources that enrich the campus community.
  • Purdue Course Listing
    • The catalog has a complete list of approved Purdue West Lafayette courses that may be used for meeting foundational learning outcomes.

Last modified: July 29, 2025