Ursinus College’s first-ever Experiential Learning Week is already being hailed as a resounding success, with students, faculty, and employer partners praising the program’s energy, depth, and real-world impact. For one week, classrooms gave way to corporate offices, research labs, government chambers, and creative workspaces as students immersed themselves in hands-on learning designed to connect classroom learning with real-world application.
Rebecca Lyczak, dean of undergraduate studies, described the program as a way to help students engage with professional environments early in their college careers. Rather than waiting until junior or senior year, first-year students are placed in experiences aligned with their interests — from corporate settings to faculty-led projects — so they can confirm or reconsider career paths sooner.
“Participating in experiential learning early on will help them make purposeful choices for the rest of their time at Ursinus,” Lyczak explained.
In one particularly memorable example, students studying affordable housing policy traveled to Philadelphia to observe legislation they had been analyzing only to arrive on the very day it was signed into law. They witnessed the mayor sign the bill and attended the accompanying press conference, turning what could have been a classroom case study into a front-row seat to the democratic process
At The Haverford Trust Company, alumnus Keith Aleardi welcomed five students for a two-day immersion into financial services.
“We viewed this as a micro-internship,” Aleardi said. “We exposed the students to the inner workings of the company.”
Students met with teams across research, marketing, and legal, gaining insight into the many non-sales roles within finance.
Meanwhile, at Johnson & Johnson, alumna Kate Herr hosted a dozen students, introducing them to professionals across departments.
A key theme emerged: career paths are rarely linear. By hearing varied journeys — from lab research to quality assurance and automation — students saw how passions evolve and opportunities unfold.
From finance and pharmaceuticals to public policy and the arts, the initiative delivered what it promised: meaningful exposure, tangible skills, and eye-opening moments that many students said reshaped how they see their futures.
To learn more about Experiential Learning Week, part of APEX at Ursinus, visit Ursinus College.
