Process Summary

Receiving Credit for a GenEd CX: Summary of the Four-Step Student Process

For a General Education Connection Experience (GenEd CX)* to count towards the general education requirement, each of the following steps must be completed, reviewed, and approved. This is a summary of the process; the details are in the form required for each step.

*Note: The OWU Connection office urges students to discuss their proposed GenEd CX well in advance with their academic advisors, peer mentors, and/or staff of the OWU Connection offices. It should be noted that programming at both the Fall and Spring Connection Conferences includes instructional sessions, panels, and workshops related to these requirements.

Step One: Description of the Proposed GenEd CX.

This step can be completed by filling out the CX Planning & Approval form. Once the form has been submitted, Connection staff will review and approve the CX or contact the student with comments and required changes and/or additional information. This step includes:

• Section I – A brief, 1-2 sentence description of the CX. 
• Section II – The OWU faculty or staff member most closely associated with the CX. 
• Section III – The area(s) of the OWU Connection most clearly aligned with the experience.
• Section IV – An estimate of the number of hours likely to be spent on the out-of-class portion of the experience.

Step Two: Execution of the CX Outside of the Traditional Classroom

One of the key criteria that distinguishes a CX undertaken to satisfy the general education requirement is a "significant and sustained activity and engagement outside of the traditional classroom." During the execution of the project and/or participation in the CX, all students will submit a brief CX Update and Preliminary Reflection form. This step will allow the Office of the OWU Connection to confirm that the CX is proceeding as planned while providing students with the impetus to reflect on their experience while it is happening. This step includes:

• Section I – A description and reflection on the beginning of the CX.
• Section II – Specific challenges that have been encountered and/or connections that have been made with one or more OWU courses. 

Step Three: Reflection

Careful and thoughtful reflection is required if one is to transform experiential and co-curricular experiences into authentic learning opportunities. Once a student completes their CX, they should execute Step Three by completing the CX Reflection form. This form includes: 

• Section I – An in-depth description of the entire Connection Experience. 
• Section II – Two OWU courses that closely align with the central activities of the CX. Included in this section is an intentional connection between the theories, assessments, and objectives of the courses and the CX.
• Section III – A detailed reflection on the experience including skills developed as a result of the CX, particularly satisfying or challenging aspects of the CX, and the role the CX might play in achieving future career or other goals.

Step Four: Communication

The reflection that is required to link curricula and co-curricular activities will be most effective if it is shared with the campus community. The final requirement of the GenEd CX is to participate in a Connection Conference* as either a student panelist, a symposium participant, or a presenter. 

*Note: Students may satisfy the Communication requirement if they present their work to a wide audience as part of their CX. Examples include a professional conference or meeting.

Once a student has presented at the Conference, they should complete the CX Communication form. This form includes: 

• Section I – Identification of the Connection Conference at which the student participated.
• Section II – The title of the session and the role the student played (i.e. panelist, symposium poster presentation, etc.)
• Section III – If the presentation to a wide audience was at a venue other than the OWU Connection Conference, offer all relevant details.