This FAQ provides detailed information about Ohio Wesleyan University's General Education Connection Experience (GenEd CX) requirement.
The GenEd CX is a significant and sustained experiential learning activity that allows students to connect their academic knowledge with experiences outside the traditional classroom. It has been a required component of OWU's general education curriculum since 2023. The experience helps students integrate classroom learning with real-world applications, develop new skills, and prepare for their future careers.
Beginning with the incoming class of 2023, all OWU students must complete one Connection Experience to fulfill their general education requirements and graduate.
There are four main categories of Connection Experiences:
Each category offers multiple ways to fulfill the requirement based on your interests and goals.
All GenEd CXs must meet three basic criteria:
Additionally, students must meet at least four of six specific learning objectives outlined in the GenEd CX criteria.
The process consists of:
Each step must be completed and approved before moving to the next. All forms can be accessed on the GenEd CX homepage.
Submit a Planning & Approval form to the OWU Connection office, ideally in the semester prior to your planned experience. The form, which can be accessed on the GenEd CX homepage, includes a description of your proposed experience, relevant course connections, faculty and/or supervisor information, and estimated time commitment. The Connection office will review your proposal and either approve it or provide feedback for revision.
While there isn't a strict hour requirement, most experiences that satisfy the requirement typically involve a minimum of 20-30 hours of out-of-class activity. This includes time spent planning, researching, and executing the project or participating in the experience.
Yes, certain courses include a GenEd CX as part of their requirements. These include independent studies (490-level courses), Travel-Learning Courses, and courses with significant out-of-classroom components like service learning (e.g., SJ 390 and SOAN 359). However, the experience must still be approved and meet all GenEd CX criteria. It is not enough to simply register for and complete the course.
The Connection Conference is a biannual event (Fall and Spring) where students share their Connection Experiences with the OWU community and learn more about what kind of Connection Experiences are out there. It serves as the primary venue for fulfilling the communication requirement of the GenEd CX. Students can present their work through individual or group presentations, poster sessions, or other physical/digital artifacts.
If you cannot present at the Connection Conference, you may satisfy the communication requirement by presenting your work to a wide audience in another appropriate venue, such as the Spring Student Symposium, a professional conference or large meeting. You'll need to document this alternative presentation in your final submission.
The reflection process involves two parts:
Both reflections must be submitted using the appropriate forms and approved by the Connection office.
Yes, internships can qualify as a GenEd CX under the GET REAL category, whether they are paid or unpaid, for credit or not for credit. However, the internship must still meet the basic criteria for a GenEd CX and go through the approval process.
Under the DO GOOD category, qualifying service activities include:
The key is that the service must be sustained, meaningful, and connected to your academic learning.
Yes, study abroad and other international experiences can qualify under the GO GLOBAL category. This includes semester programs, summer programs, travel-learning courses, and other international experiences. The experience must still meet the GenEd CX criteria and include appropriate reflection and presentation components.
The OWU Connection directors review and approve GenEd CX proposals, with oversight from the Associate Dean of the OWU Connection and CAP (Committee on Academic Planning). Reviews occur on a rolling basis, with decisions typically made within two weeks of submission.
If your proposal isn't approved, you'll receive feedback and suggestions for revision. You can then address these comments and resubmit your proposal. It's recommended to submit proposals well in advance of your planned experience to allow time for potential revisions.
Your GenEd CX completion is tracked through the four required forms:
As you complete each step, it will be recorded in your degree audit. All steps must be completed and approved for the requirement to be fulfilled.
Many resources are available:
Yes! While only one GenEd CX is required for graduation, students are encouraged to participate in multiple Connection Experiences during their time at OWU. Each experience provides unique opportunities for learning and growth.
Some experiences, such as Travel-Learning Courses, may be completed after graduation. In such cases, students should contact the Connection Office to make alternative arrangements for completing the reflection and communication requirements. In general, however, students should complete their GenEd CX and the required reflections and communication before they graduate.
While both are part of the OWU Connection program, a GenEd CX specifically satisfies the general education requirement and must meet additional criteria. GenEd CXs require formal approval, structured reflection, and public presentation components. They must also demonstrate clear connections to academic coursework and meet at least four of the six specified learning objectives.
You can begin a GenEd CX at any point in your academic career. However, if you plan to complete your CX before taking related coursework, you'll need to schedule a meeting with OWU Connection staff to discuss how you'll connect the experience to future academic work. This is important because the experience must demonstrate integration with academic content, whether completed before or after related coursework.
Qualifying research projects include:
The key is that the research must be substantial, involve independent work, and connect to your academic studies.
You'll need to:
This documentation should show clear, explicit links between your academic work and your experiential learning.
Mentors can:
You should identify relevant mentors in your initial proposal and maintain contact with them throughout your CX.
If significant changes occur in your approved CX plans, you should:
Minor adjustments may not require reapproval, but substantial changes to the scope, duration, or nature of the experience will need review.
Your reflections should be thorough and specific.
Include concrete examples and specific instances that demonstrate your learning and growth.
While your GenEd CX should primarily be one cohesive experience, some experiences naturally combine multiple elements. However, you must clearly articulate how these elements work together to create a unified experience that meets all GenEd CX criteria in your proposal and reflections.
GenEd CX activities are supported in many different ways, including:
Additionally, the Connection office can help you identify appropriate funding sources for your specific type of experience.
While internships and volunteer work can qualify as GenEd CXs, they must include additional academic components:
Simply completing an internship or volunteer work without these additional components would not satisfy the GenEd CX requirement.
For additional questions or clarification about the GenEd CX requirement, please contact the OWU Connection office or speak with your academic advisor. This FAQ will be updated periodically to address new questions and provide the most current information about the requirement.