Experiential Learning will host its Campus Opportunities Expo for the spring semester from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, in the Swetman Gym of Marano Campus Center. The Campus Opportunities Expo connects students with campus organizations offering internships, student employment and many other experiences.

Morgan Buchanan, the internship coordinator for the Office of Experiential Learning, has been running the expo for four years. “It’s kind of an all-in-one information session while you get to know the faces on campus,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan describes the event as low-stakes but a way for students to network with different campus organizations. The expo is a more exploratory way for students to discover the next steps they want to take before they graduate for work experience to help their careers. Students also will be working with people who are experts in their field.

Buchanan also said it is a great way for students to discover more about the type of work environment they want to go into.  It also helps students develop skills that they may not realize are necessary. “It’s all those niche little things of testing what you want to see and putting the combination of what is your equation to make a happy work life for you,” said Buchanan. 

The expo is expanding the number of departments attending. Organizers expect to have more than 30 different departments. From Auxiliary Services to Financial Aid to Residential Life and Housing, a wide variety of departments will offer experiences for students.

Something students may not expect at the expo is new service learning opportunities. Students have the opportunity to partner with non-profit organizations for community service that they can receive credit hours for. One example is the General Studies 303 course, “Leadership in your Field.”

Even if students are unsure of their career path, the opportunities presented at the expo will help students gain a better understanding of the working world and a better understanding of themselves. “Just come and learn what the possibilities could be for you,” Buchanan said. 

The move to Swetman Gym also provides an opportunity for the Office of Dean of Students to offer a resource corner for students looking to learn more about resources they have access to, especially when seeking summer employment, summer housing and funding support for basic needs. 

–- Written by Nina Ottesen of the Class of 2026