Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX)

for Students

The Office of Applied Learning Experiences was created expressly for the development of applied learning experiences for it's students. Below are details of opportunities in various areas, including internships, applied learning experiences in courses, student research travel grants, and the ALEX Mentorship Program.

Spring ALEX Internship Fair (February 28)

The Spring ALEX Internship Fair is being held on Thursday, February 28, from 6 - 8 p.m. in the Campus Center Dining Room. Featuring 51 employers and over 100 internship opportunities from a variety of industries and disciplines, this semester's fair is our largest ever. Further details can be found on our internship page.

Student Research Travel Grant

The University of Hawai'i at Hilo Office of Applied Learning Experiences is proud to offer funding for student travel to present research at accredited research conferences within the United States and it's territories. Each applicant must also make a case of how their research has a direct impact on Native Hawaiians. Funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Funded by a Title III Alaska Native-Native Hawaiian (ANNH) Serving Institutions grant, Native Hawaiian students are strongly encouraged to apply, as they are given preference for funding.

To ensure that as many students as possible can benefit from the limited funds available, a ceiling of $2,000 has been set per student application. It is important that you take this into consideration when completing your application, as when you are reducing your expenses, you are helping to save money for other applicants. If the anticipated expenses exceed this amount, students are encouraged to seek other funding sources, such as UHHSA or to reduce their expenses by finding less expensive accomodations or ground travel arrangements.

Please complete the following application form, provide all supporting materials, including your calculations for meals and accomodations, and hand deliver your application to the Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) located in 250 Edith Kanaka'ole Hall (250 EKH).

Application Form: research-travel-grant-application-form

Application Form Completion Guidelines

Conference Registration

Unless otherwise noted, conference registration fees will be paid directly by the grant administrator, not the applicant.

Air Travel

Unless otherwise instructed, air travel reservations will be made by the grant administrator, not the applicant. Therefore, when completing your application, provide an estimate of your air travel expense by printing a copy of the itinerary and ticket price without purchasing the ticket.

Lodging and Meals and Incidental Expenses

Lodging and meals and incidental expenses are allocated based upon federal pre-established amounts based on location that can be identified by using information provided at the following link: per diem rates query

Your calculations should begin at the date and time of your departure and conclude at the date and time of your return.

Lodging

Lodging is provided only for the actual amount of the lodging, not the per diem amount quoted at the federal website, with reservations made by the student and an invoice or printed quote provided during the application process. If the paperwork is completed at least two weeks prior to the travel date, the individual will receive their hotel cost as part of a travel advance. An official hotel receipt must be provided following the completion of the trip. If for some reason the hotel is less than what was originally invoiced or quoted, the individual must return the difference. If it is more they will get reimbursed for the additional cost as part of the travel completion.

Meals

If a meal is served as part of the conference meeting, then this amount will be deducted from your meal allocation and funds returned upon travel completion. Meals provided can typically be found in the conference agenda prior to the conference and should be included as part of the application packet. If unavailable at that time, include the agenda upon travel completion along with the amount that should have been deducted from the travel advance.

Incidentals

Incidental costs include ground transportation, fees to a required event, wi-fi connection, etc. All of these expenses must be justified and receipts provided upon travel completion. Rental cars are not allowed. Students are encourage to utilize light rail and shuttles, although taxis are also permissable. If only one person in a group pays, then the peson nededs to bring b ack the receipt with an explanation that they paid for everyone. Everyone else in the group may have a portion of that amount deducted from their advance.

Statement of Impact

This student research travel grant is funded by a Title III Alaska Native-Native Hawaiian (ANNH) Serving Institutions grant. Therefore, we ask that all applicants provide on a separate sheet of paper an explanation of how their research impacts Native Hawaiians.

ALEX Professional Development Certificate

The ALEX Professional Development Certificate is a three part process designed to assist students in securing internships with organizations offering positions in career fields in the student's area of interest. The Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) helps students to accomplish this through the following initiatives:

  • Resume Writing Workshop (Thursday, February 7, 6:30 - 8 p.m): The first step in securing employment, whether it's an internship or full time employment, is creating an effective resume. What makes a resume effective? Well, did you know that recruiters spend approximately 20 seconds scanning a resume to determine if the candidate meets the criteria for the position or not? Did you know that your resume should be tailored for each position that you are applying for, rather than having a single general resume? This hands on workshop is designed to help students with limited work experience to draw on all of their experiences in creating customized resumes that pass the scan test. Professional recruiters will also be on hand to offer their insights into what they look for in an effective resume. Campus Center 301 is the venue for this event. Students can register for the Resume Writing Workshop by going to the ALEX Facebook page (facebook.com/UHHiloALEX).
  • Interviewing Skills Workshop (Thursday, February 21, 6:30 - 8 p.m.): In addition to an effective resume, high on recruiters lists are proper dress and appearance, the right attitude and effective interpersonal communication skills. They also want to know that you've researched their organization and the position that you are applying for. This process doesn't begin interviewing room, but rather at the first point of contact between you and the recruiter, which is usually at a job or internship fair. Featuring recruiters from multiple organizations, this workshop features a presentation by one of the top recruiters in the State of Hawai`i, as well as a panel discussion of recruiters who regularly interact with students at fairs and in the interview room. Most of these recruiters also participate in the ALEX Internship Fair, which is described below. Campus Center 301 is the venue for this event. Students can register for the Internship Fair and Interviewing Skills Workshop by going to the ALEX Facebook page (facebook.com/UHHiloAlex).
  • ALEX Internship Fair (Thursday, February 28, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.): The resume writing and internship fair and interviewing skills workshops put students in the best position to secure an internship at the ALEX Internship Fair, which attracted 39 organizations this past November and is expected to grow to 60 organizations for this Fair. Held in the Campus Center Dining Room, a resume in hand and professional dress is required for entry. Please refer to the internship page beginning February 14 for updates on employers and internship positions.

ALEX Student Research Conference

The Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) is proud to announce the University of Hawai'i at Hilo's first student research conference, to be held from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 9 in the University Classroom Building. The purpose of the conference is to both highlight student research efforts at UH Hilo and encourage and facilitate faculty use of student research in course design. The program will consist of 35 student research presentations using various formats (poster session, table top display, or podium presentation) that will be judged and considered for awards. In addition, faculty who actively utilize research in their courses will conduct breakout sessions designed to help faculty to integrate research into their own courses. Faculty can sign up to serve as a judge and participate in breakout sessions to earn a professional development certificate (described below). The public is welcome to attend.

Conference Program

8:00 a.m.: Registration

8:30 - 10:30 a.m.: Student Research Presentations

10:30 a.m. - 12 noon: Faculty Breakout Sessions (Descriptions Provided Below)

12 noon - 12:30 p.m.: Lunch and Awards Presentation

Applied Learning Experiences in Courses

Applied learning experiences engage students in a variety of real world situations requiring them to put into action the knowledge and skills they are developing in their coursework. Descriptions of these opportunities are provided below. A list of courses offering applied learning experiences at UH Hilo is provided at the following link, with courses available during the Spring 2013 semester (59 in total) highlighted in bold italics: applied-learning-experiences-spring-2013

Internship: Activities in which knowledge and skills are applied in a real-life setting under the guidance/supervision of a mentor with expertise in the area of application.

Exemplar
- A marketing student designing an advertising strategy under the supervision of a firm's marketing director.

Community Based Project: Students partner with community organizations in addressing and providing solutions to problems the organization is facing while applying the principles and skills they are learning in their coursework. These projects typically focus on the development of problem solving and critical thinking skills and reflect activities students can expect during their professional careers.

Exemplar
- A sociology class partners with an orphanage to find solution to the problem of increased abandonment; then provides education outreach to area families and resources to promote family unity.

Service Learning: Students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs, and reflects on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of curricular content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility. Service learning is distinct from community based projects in that they tend to focus on broader social and environmental issues and the activities may not approximate an activity that they can expect during their professional careers.

Exemplar
- Same sociology class partners with an orphanage beautify neighborhood (murals, landscaping, trash pick-up) as part of keeping families together.

Creative Activities: Involves the application of knowledge and skills in the creation, production, performance and/or exhibition of creative output. This would include a major art exhibit, reading, recital, or equivalent performance.
Exemplars
- Major art exhibit or creative output (book, portfolio, etc.)
- Reading
- Recital

Research: Application of knowledge and skills in any research-based endeavors (laboratory, field studies or faculty directed research) that approximate what the student can expect to encounter in the ‘real world’ that the field of study resides.

Exemplars
- Laboratory
- Field studies
- Faculty directed research

Practica: Clinical or educational placement that allows for the application of knowledge and skills in direct patient care activities (clinical placement) or teaching (educational placement).

Simulation Exercises: Application of knowledge and skills to activities or decisions that are designed to closely replicate those found in a real world setting. These activities can occur both in and/or outside of the classroom.

Exemplars
- Mock job interview
- Administering IV injection using a dummy
- Making management decisions using a simulation game

Capstone Experience/Project: A capstone experience/project is designed to bring reflection and focus to the whole of the college experience and focus on some feature of the student’s area of concentration in using the skills, methodology, and knowledge taught throughout the undergraduate/graduate curriculum in addressing problems in the real world.

Exemplars
- Write a grant
- Create a new business plan/proposal
- Develop new software

ALEX Mentorship Program

Each semester, UH Hilo's ALEX Mentorship Program matches students with industry professionals who are alumni and friends of the university. A mentor is someone that through support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example helps a mentee to reach his or her life and career goals. Working one on one with a student, mentors help them to explore a career path and prepare for the transition from college life to the workplace. If you're interested in participating in the ALEX Mentorship program, please contact University Applied Learning Experiences Director, Dr. Tom DeWitt.