Cocurricular Programs
Student Affairs staff across the University are renewing their efforts to develop intentional learning outcomes for their workshops and programs and to amplify the positive impact of out-of-class or cocurricular learning at Penn State. An important component of this effort will be to assess the effectiveness of cocurricular programs by measuring student attainment of the intended learning outcomes.
Cocurricular education at Penn State is defined as formal and informal out-of-class learning opportunities. These opportunities include involvement with clubs and organizations, workshops, lectures, internships, co-ops, interactions with faculty and others students, cultural events and study abroad.
Three important higher education monographs (Learning Reconsidered, The Student Learning Imperative and Powerful Partnerships) have helped to shape many new efforts at Penn State. These are designed to advance cocurricular learning and to help students make intellectual connections between in-class and out-of-class learning.