Enriching Educational Experiences

A student's educational experience during college can been enriched in many ways. Complementary learning opportunities can enhance academic programs. Diversity experiences can teach students valuable things about themselves and others. Technology can facilitate collaboration between peers and instructors. Internships, community service, and senior capstone courses provide opportunities to integrate and apply knowledge.

The 2008 NSSE report indicated that Saint Michael's students take advantage of such opportunities at the college. Of the first-year students who responded to the survey, 51 percent said they frequently have serious conversations with students who are different from themselves in terms of their religious, political, or personal beliefs. By their senior year, 42 percent of the students surveyed said they had studied abroad, and 76 percent of them had participated in community service or volunteer work.

Overall, the NSSE survey uses the benchmark items listed below to establish its comparison report on educational experiences for each of the participating institutions. To the right is a graph depicting how the seniors surveyed at Saint Michael's compare to all NSSE schools on the following criteria:

  • Enriching Educational ExperiencesParticipating in co-curricular activities (organizations, publications, student government, sports, etc.)
  • Practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment
  • Community service or volunteer work
  • Foreign language coursework & study abroad
  • Independent study or self-designed major
  • Culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.
  • Serious conversations with students of different religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values
  • Serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
  • Using electronic technology to discuss or complete an assignment
  • Campus environment encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds
  • Participate in a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together

In the fall of 2007, Saint Michael's began a partnership with the Flynn Center for Performing Arts that enables students to see the season's shows at low cost. Learn about the opportunities available to students through our Cultural Pass program.