Frequently asked questions regarding the Experiential Learning requirement of the Forester Fundamental Curriculum (FFC-EL requirement)
The sections below are labeled and correspond to individual sections of the FFC-EL requirement.
1a. FAQ for a Course with an EL Tag
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Register for the course.
- Pass the course.
- Submit the written reflection to the course instructor by the due date (due on or before the last class day).
- What are the course instructor’s responsibilities?
- Assign a due date for the written reflections (due on or before the last class day).
- Ensure that the written reflections meet the guidelines.
- Submit the reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu by the end of the final exam period.
- Assign course grades after the reflections have been received and submitted.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- Once the course grade appears on the transcript, then the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
1b. FAQ for Career Advancement Center (CAC) Internship Program for Academic Credit (1.0 credit or more)
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Begin work with the CAC a semester in advance to complete an internship search, secure an internship (if you have not already), and register for the internship program course.
- Complete the internship hours and course assignments in order to pass the internship program course.
- Submit the written reflection to the CAC as part of the final internship portfolio assignment by the due date (i.e., before the Sunday of the last week of the internship).
- What are the CAC internship supervisor’s responsibilities?
- Communicate the due date for the written reflections (i.e., before the Sunday of the last week of the internship, as part of the final project).
- Ensure that the written reflections meet the guidelines.
- Store the reflections in the CAC archives (i.e., on Moodle and SmartSheet).
- Assign internship grades after the reflections have been received and submitted.
- At the conclusion of each academic term, the CAC will send copies of that term’s written reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- Once the internship grade appears on the transcript, then the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
1c. FAQ for Global Engagement Office (GEO) Approved Off-Campus Study
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Work with the Global Engagement Office (GEO) director to apply for and enroll in an approved off-campus study program (3-week minimum program length).
- Complete the approved off-campus program.
- Submit the written reflection to the GEO director by the due date (i.e., within three weeks after your return from the program).
- What are the GEO director’s responsibilities?
- Communicate the due date for the written reflections (i.e., within three weeks after the student’s return from the program).
- Ensure that the written reflections meet the guidelines.
- Store the reflections in the GEO archives (i.e., on V: drive).
- At the conclusion of each academic term, the GEO director will send copies of the stored written reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- When the Registrar registers the student for the off-campus program, the Registrar will add EXPR 002 to their transcript.
- After receiving transcripts from the off-campus programs, the Registrar will assign a RS grade (requirement satisfied) to EXPR 002. Then, the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
1d. FAQ for Senior Thesis (1.0 credit or more)
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Secure a senior thesis advisor.
- Complete the Thesis Approval Form (Request for Approval) and submit to the Registrar.
- Complete the senior thesis requirements.
- Submit the written reflection to the senior thesis advisor by the due date (ideally, due on or before the last class day).
- What are the faculty supervisor’s responsibilities?
- Assign a due date for the written reflection (ideally, due on or before the last class day).
- Ensure that the written reflection meets the guidelines.
- Submit the reflection to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu by the end of the final exam period.
- Assign the senior thesis grade after the reflection has been received and submitted.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- Once the senior thesis grade appears on the transcript, then the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
1e. FAQ for Independent Research/Creative Project (1.0 credit or more)
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Secure a faculty member to serve as the project supervisor.
- Complete either the Research Project Form (Request for Approval) or the Creative Project Form (Request for Approval) and submit to the Registrar.
- Complete the independent research or creative project requirements.
- Submit the written reflection to the faculty supervisor by the due date (on or before the last day of class).
- What are the faculty supervisor’s responsibilities?
- Assign a due date for the written reflection (due on or before the last class day).
- Ensure that the written reflection meets the guidelines.
- Submit the reflection to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu by the end of the final exam period.
- Assign a grade after the reflection has been received and submitted.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- Once the independent research or creative project grade appears on the transcript, then the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
1f. FAQ for For-Credit Summer Research (1.0 credit or more)
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Apply for and secure a summer research position (e.g., 8-10 week Richter program, RFU summer scholars program, Lillard summer research).
- Complete the summer research requirements.
- For Lake Forest College programs, submit the written reflection to the faculty supervisor by the due date (on or before the Sunday of the last week of the research experience).
- For the RFU program, submit the written reflection to Co-Director of the LFC-RFU Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars Program via Moodle by the due date (on or before the Sunday of the last week of the research experience).
- What are the faculty supervisor’s or director’s responsibilities?
- Assign a due date for the written reflection (on or before the Sunday of the last week of the research experience).
- Ensure that the written reflection meets the guidelines.
- For Lake Forest College programs, submit the reflection to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu within one week of the conclusion of the research program.
- For the LFC-RFU Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, store the reflection in the CAC archives (i.e., on Moodle and SmartSheet) and send copies of the stored written reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu within one week of the conclusion of the research program.
- Assign grades for summer research after the reflection has been received and submitted.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- When the Registrar registers the student for the summer research program, the Registrar will add a research course code to their transcript (e.g., RSCH 18X, HPPC 490).
- After grades are reported, the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
1g. FAQ for Fractional Experiential Credits that Sum to 1.0 Credit
- What types of fractional experiential credits will qualify?
- Some common fractional experiential projects include: for-credit independent research/creative project, for-credit practicum, for-credit peer teaching, for-credit peer mentoring, for-credit tutoring, 4-week Summer Richter, fractional for-credit internship.
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Meet with academic advisor once the student’s fractional experiential credits exceed the 1.0 credit threshold.
- Review the requirements of the FFC-EL Fractional Credits Completion Guide with the academic advisor.
- After the meeting, prepare the written reflection and the list of fractional credits. Share this information with the academic advisor.
- Once the academic advisor is satisfied with your responses, submit the FFC-EL Fractional Credits Completion Form.
- What are the academic advisor’s responsibilities?
- Review the requirements of the FFC-EL Fractional Credits Completion Guide with the student advisee.
- Ensure that the written reflection meets the guidelines.
- Ensure that the student properly completes and submits the FFC-EL Fractional Credits Completion Form.
- Approve via the Form Flow
- Once the student submits via my.lakeforest, the advisor will be prompted for approval. After the advisor approves, the form automatically will be sent to the Registrar for final processing.
- The Form Flow process will automatically store the written reflection on the V: drive because the reflection is part of the completion form.
- At the conclusion of each academic term, the Registrar will send copies of the stored written reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- Once the form reaches the Registrar, the Registrar will manually mark the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
2a. FAQ for Non-Credit Experiential Projects
- When can I use this this option?
- If you have not yet started your experiential project, then you can get the project pre-approved to ensure that it will satisfy the FFC-EL requirement.
- What types of activities will qualify?
- Some common non-credit experiential projects include: career-related summer employment; on-campus employment; non-credit internship; non-credit peer teaching; non-credit peer mentoring; non-credit peer tutoring; non-credit research; organization, publicity, senior recital performance
- How many stages are involved in this process?
- The application/approval stage should be completed before the non-credit experiential project begins.
- The completion stage should be completed within two weeks of the conclusion of the non-credit experiential project.
- What are the student’s responsibilities for the application/approval stage?
- Review the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide.
- Select and meet with a potential faculty project supervisor.
- Prepare responses to the key questions outlined in the guide and share these responses with the faculty project supervisor.
- When the faculty project supervisor is satisfied with your responses, submit the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form
- Once submitted, the form will be automatically sent to the faculty project supervisor for approval. Then, it will be sent to the FFCIS Chair for review and feedback or approval.
- What are the faculty project supervisor’s responsibilities for the application/approval stage?
- Review the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide with the student.
- Review a draft of the student’s responses to the prompts in the application guide.
- Ensure that the student submits the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form
- Approve via the Form Flow
- Once the student submits the application via my.lakeforest, the faculty project supervisor will be prompted for approval. Then, the application will be automatically sent to the FFCIS Chair for review and decision (approval, revision, denial).
- What are the student’s responsibilities for the completion stage?
- Review the requirements of the FFC-EL Non-Credit Completion Guide with the faculty project supervisor near the end of the non-credit experiential project.
- Prepare the written reflection along with the other information specified in the guide. Share this information with the faculty project supervisor.
- When the faculty project supervisor is satisfied with your responses, submit the FFC-EL Non-Credit Completion Form.
- What are the faculty project supervisor’s responsibilities for the completion stage?
- Review the FFC-EL Non-Credit Completion Guide with the student.
- Ensure that the written reflection meets the guidelines.
- Ensure that the student submits the FFC-EL Non-Credit Completion Form.
- Approve via the Form Flow
- Once the student submits via my.lakeforest, the faculty project supervisor will be prompted for approval. Then, the form automatically will be sent to the Registrar for final processing.
- The Form Flow process automatically will store the written reflection on the V: drive because the reflection is part of the completion form.
- At the conclusion of each academic term, the Registrar will send copies of the stored written reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- After approval of the application, the Registrar registers the student for the non-credit experiential project by adding EXPR 001 to their transcript.
- After completion of the non-credit experiential project, the Registrar will assign a RS grade (requirement satisfied) to EXPR 001. Then, the FFC audit tool will automatically record the FFC-EL requirement as complete.
2b. FAQ for Retroactive Experiential Projects
- When can I use this this option?”
- If you did not get pre-approved via 2a and your project is already complete, then your only option is to apply retroactively for credit. There is a risk that the project will not be approved, which is why we prefer the pre-approval process in 2a (which you seek before starting the project.
- What types of activities will qualify?
- Sample retroactive (already-completed) projects: non-credit internship; off-campus study (not GEO approved); independent research/creative project completed before transferring to Lake Forest College; career-related summer employment.
- What are the student’s responsibilities?
- Meet with your academic advisor to review the requirements of the FFC-EL Retroactive Application Guide.
- After the meeting, prepare the answers to the questions on the FFC-EL Retroactive Application Guide (including the written reflection) and share this information with the academic advisor.
- Once the academic advisor is satisfied with your responses, submit the FFC-EL Retroactive Application Form.
- What are the academic advisor’s responsibilities?
- Review the requirements of the FFC-EL Retroactive Application Guide with your advisee.
- Ensure that your advisee properly completes and submits the FFC-EL Retroactive Application Form.
- Approve via the Form Flow
- Once the student submits the application via my.lakeforest, the academic advisor will be prompted for approval. Then, the application will be automatically sent to the FFCIS Chair for review and feedback or approval.
- If approved, the Form Flow process will automatically store the written reflection on the V: drive because the reflection is part of the completion form.
- At the conclusion of each academic term, the Registrar will send copies of the stored written reflections to FFC_reflection@lakeforest.edu.
- How does completion of the FFC-EL requirement get recorded for the FFC audit?
- Once the form is approved by the FFC Chair, it automatically will be sent to the Registrar. The Registrar will manually mark the FFC-EL requirement as complete and note in the student’s academic record how this requirement was satisfied.