UVA Wise Receives Funds to Expand Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Students
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) has been selected as one of 20 institutions to receive a capacity-building grant through the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP). The grant, which awards up to $150,000 to each institution, will support UVA Wise in enhancing its infrastructure for work-based learning.
The grant, administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), will enable UVA Wise to continue providing experiential learning opportunities for students. The award is the latest in a series of strategic efforts at UVA Wise to build a robust framework for student success through experiential learning.
Since the establishment of the Experiential Learning Hub, UVA Wise has made significant progress to increase student access to internships and work-based learning opportunities. The new grant will further strengthen this momentum, providing funding to create a point of entry for students and offering additional support in gaining real-world experience.
"Receiving this capacity-building grant is a major step forward for UVA Wise in fulfilling our commitment to student career readiness," said Tonya Nations, director of UVA Wise’s Office of Career Discovery. "In just one year, this grant will make a lasting impact by offering our students a centralized entry point for experiential learning opportunities. It’s a game-changer for community engagement, internships, undergraduate research and study abroad."
UVA Wise will use the grant to hire two program assistants who will provide critical support for students and employers involved in internships and other work-based learning experiences. These positions will help ensure that both students and employers have the resources and guidance they need to maximize the impact of these opportunities.
Building a Sustainable Framework for Experiential Learning
In 2023, UVA Wise faculty voted to make experiential learning a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. This policy, combined with increasing enrollment, underscores the importance of providing students with high-quality work-based learning opportunities that align with their academic goals and career aspirations.
"By building stronger connections between students, faculty and employers, we’re creating a pipeline of talent that benefits both our students and the communities we serve," says Donna P. Henry, UVA Wise Chancellor. "This grant will allow us to continue to grow our capacity and better serve our students as they prepare to enter the workforce. Our goal at UVA Wise is to empower graduates for the world they live in today and for the world they will inherit and shape in the next 50 years.”