While every student experience is in many ways unique, the Lab identified nine experiential themes that span demographics, geography and school and student-type.
Visit the BIF Student Experience Lab Phase One Website Start Here: Fundamentals Video: Project SummaryThe college experience is founded on a student's previous academic experiences, their cultural and community framework, their expectations about what is possible, their internal motivations, and the kind of role modeling and support they received.
Next Theme: Chasing the Dream Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummarySeeking a college education often is intertwined with deeply personal dreams about what they want their life to be. Their "dream" may be very specific or very broad and frequently changes over time and with experience.
Next Theme: Planning the Future Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryWhen students plan the future they make critical decisions that have a lasting effect on their academic trajectory. Students often base their plans on very little (and sometimes wrong) information about options and opportunities.
Next Theme: Navigating the System Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryGoing to college requires students to make decisions within a complicated bureaucratic system.
Next Theme: Managing Finances Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryIn the last decade, the cost of a college degree has doubled. Students rely heavily on financial aid and often enter into debt with only a marginal understanding of the long-term consequences.
Next Theme: Institutional Fit Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryAs students begin to interact with a school, they start to assess how the institution "fits" their needs.
Next Theme: Being in Class Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryThe experience of "being in class" is distinctly different from time spent in between courses or planning for education. It is the time of active learning, when students expect to have tangible evidence that their efforts are purposeful and worthwhile.
Next Theme: Relationships Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryStrong and positive relationships with advisors, mentors and peers play an important role in enabling academic success.
Next Theme: Fundamentals Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project SummaryStrong and positive relationships with advisors, mentors and peers play an important role in enabling academic success.
Dive Deeper: Student Experience Lab Website Video: Project Summary