Experiences in which students extend, apply, connect or share different ways of knowing (e.g., oral, verbal, tactile, imaginative, intuitive), often in inter-disciplinary settings.

Special projects allow students to extend, connect, or deepen their liberal arts learning in unique ways. The Special Projects category includes:

• projects that apply different ways of knowing (e.g., oral, verbal, tactile, imaginative, rational, intuitive, artistic, scientific);
• projects that bring together the methods, insights, concerns, or subject matters of different disciplines;
• projects that entail non-traditional ways of approaching a topic;
• projects that are in the spirit of engaged learning but do not properly fit in the other Odyssey categories.

Proposals for special projects must include an explanation of how a particular project meets one of the descriptions above.

Although the projects belonging to this category will differ widely, a special project must entail at least 30 hours of work on the part of each student involved. Proposals must include an estimate of the amount of time to be spent on the project, and records of time spent must be kept throughout the project’s duration.

The outcome of a special project does not need to be a “product” per se, but proposals must indicate the anticipated outcomes of the project. Projects must incorporate a component that will allow students to reflect on their experience in writing and conversation. Proposals must indicate what form this reflective component will take.

Examples of experiential learning activities that might fulfill this category:

Courses

Any course that allows students, through experiential means, to extend, connect, or deepen their liberal arts learning in unique ways and that does not precisely fit any of the other Odyssey categories could be a candidate for coding under this category. Such courses must include at least 30 hours of engaged activities as well as an opportunity for reflection on the experience.

Individualized Academic Experiences

This category includes independent studies, internships, and optional additions to existing courses (modules) that by themselves do not meet Odyssey criteria. Such projects must offer students the opportunity to explore unique, interdisciplinary, or non-traditional ways of learning through experiential activities.

Co-Curricular Activities

Special projects that involve students in engaged learning in unique, non-traditional or interdisciplinary ways and that are undertaken outside the normal context of classes, independent studies or internships may fulfill this category.

Special Considerations for Special Projects (SP) Projects and Activities

In your proposal explain carefully how your project fits one or more of the following criteria:

• Does it involve different ways of knowing?
• Is it interdisciplinary?
• Does it enlist a non-traditional approach to a topic?
• Does it exemplify some kind of engaged learning not represented in the other Odyssey categories?

Also explain what will count as a completed and successful project. For example, will there be a tangible final product? Will there be a public presentation to the campus community or other relevant audiences?