The URI Learning Experience

The URI Learning Experience

SUCCESS STORIES

Patrick Lee visited Jamaica twice during winter breaks to work with a team of students and faculty to train health care providers on pharmacy protocols.

Later, he presented at an American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy meeting about the importance of including alternative learning experiences in the pharmacy accreditation process to improve outcomes.

“I studied abroad in Italy and went on two winter break mission trips,” said Lee. “These experiences helped me develop a greater appreciation for people from different backgrounds and cultures. I learned to be more flexible.”

Patrick Lee, Pharm.D. ’20

14,700 Undergraduates

2,200 Graduate students

6,700 Students annually engage in experiential learning

B

ig Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for URI will enhance the University’s vibrant learning experiences to develop students’ full potential for leadership and discovery.

This endeavor will strategically pair academic and co-curricular activities, and will develop initiatives to measure, track, and improve outcomes. It involves expanding academic advising, career preparation, and tutoring services; increasing internships and experiential learning; launching new programs geared toward leadership development; and enhancing the Honors Program, athletics, and student health and wellness.

This is an opportunity for the University to develop its dynamic learning environment, as well as renovate facilities and infrastructure. The campaign envisions URI as a model of excellence with an eye toward the future of higher education.

Inspiring Student Success

300+ Student clubs and organizations

Students thrive in organizations and activities beyond their academic commitments.

They pair classroom learning with leadership skills and group collaboration through experiential learning, club participation, athletics, and more. Improved critical thinking, communication skills, and cultural awareness make students better citizens and better job candidates. The campaign will create more such experiences to give students the best possible comprehensive educational experience.

1,561 Students enrolled in honors courses

23% Students active in fraternities and sororities

486 Student-athletes

Our Vision To achieve and maintain a leadership position in higher education, URI must have the resources to attract and retain highly talented and motivated undergraduate and graduate students.

• Student Leadership Development and Co-curricular Opportunities: URI needs

100% Students in leadership studies minor participate in an internship

more resources and better facilities to encourage creativity and innovation.

• URI Honors Program: The URI Honors Program and Colloquium has experienced steady growth in its 50 year history. We must expand the program to keep up with increasingly competitive applicant pools. More scholarships, fellowships, and post-graduate opportunities can ensure that URI continues to attract top-performing applicants to enroll.

• URI Athletics: Developing state-of-the-art facilities, enhancing the student-athlete experience, and recruiting outstanding coaches are essential to the success of our student-athletes, our Division I athletic program, and the University’s national prominence.

• Health and Wellness: Building an integrated health services and counseling center will foster a more complete approach to physical and mental health and well-being, as well as allow new and expanded programming to better serve students.

Ready for the Real World A summer internship at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut. An alternative spring break that tackles the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. A pharmacy student on the front lines of the opioid crisis through a civic engagement partnership.

URI’s learning environment embraces hands-on experience, tailored to specific academic courses, interests, and learning styles.The University offers experiential learning opportunities such as: • Civic engagement

• Research assistantships

• Clinical rotations

• Service learning

• Internships

• Student teaching

• Project-based learning

• Study abroad

Hands-on Experiences Experiential learning is essential in helping students refine their career goals and prepare for post-college expectations. The campaign will allow the University to expand these opportunities and coordinate with academic advisors to measure and improve outcomes.

• Expand opportunities and offer financial support so more students can participate.

• Enhance the in-person and online resources that help students make academic and career transitions. Greater resources can expand our reach nationally and internationally.

• Increase the number of individuals and organizations who provide internships, networking, and job opportunities.

Rams Get Jobs: Employers at a Glance

6,600 Experiential learning opportunities

90% Of recent URI graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation

Amazon

Hasbro

Ocean State Job Lot

Amgen, Inc.

Hexagon

Orsted

Amica

Hope Global

Pfizer

Astro Nova, Inc.

Honeywell

Raytheon Company

Bank of America

IBM

Schneider Electric

Blue Cross & Blue Shield

IGT

Sensata

Citizens Bank

Immunogen, Inc.

Shimadzu

Cox Communications

Indeed

Siemens

CVS Health

Infosys

Dassault Systemes

Johnson & Johnson

Dell

KPMG

Deloitte

Lifespan

Department of Defense

Long Wharf Theatre

Department of Homeland

Merck

Security Electro Standards Laboratory Fidelity

National Grid National Institutes of Health Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC)

FM Global

Navatek

General Dynamics Electric

NBA

Boat Gilbane Building Co.

NBC Sports Neptune Benson

The Importance of Infrastructure Today’s education demands inventive thinking and high-tech infrastructure. URI has invested more than $900 million in campus improvements the last 12 years; and we have ambitious plans to continue investing in a learning environment steeped in innovation and characterized by collaboration, engagement, and student success.

Building the Future • The Center for Advancing STEM Learning: To further advance STEM teaching and learning, a new center will focus on gateway classes, new pedagogies, and student success in STEM fields.

• Renovations and Development: Buildings and campus projects that will benefit the most from investment in facilities: • Ballentine Hall

• Ranger Hall

• Fine Arts Center

• Athletic facilities

• Memorial Union

• State-of-the-art learning spaces

• Narragansett Bay Campus

• Cutting-edge research facilities

SUCCESS STORIES

Natalie Wilcox’s planned 12-week internship with Langan, a New York City civil and environmental engineering firm, was condensed to two weeks due to the pandemic, so she reached out to the Haugland Group, a Long Island construction company where she had interned the previous summer.

“With Langan I experienced a massive excavation project at the American Museum of Natural History. I also gained intense training in AutoCAD and in federal OSHA regulations.

“At Haugland Group I worked a variety of projects, including a 36-hour job over a weekend at LaGuardia Airport. I made a lot of connections in construction and engineering design through both internships.”

Natalie Wilcox ’21, Civil Engineering

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Investing in the URI Learning Experience As URI embarks upon the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in our history,

Please contact:

please consider an investment in the URI Learning Experience. Investing in

URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement

URI’s distinctive pathways to success will position URI as a leader in forward-looking

401.874.7900 or

education.

foundation@uri.edu

“ We’ve completely transformed our focus to student access and success. Everything we do is about helping our students succeed.”

KATHY COLLINS, VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

SUCCESS STORIES

Numerous community service projects.

Three alternative spring breaks.

Senior resident assistant. Chair of the Diversity Council for the Residence Council. Wesley Cabral is busy.

He credits becoming a civic engagement leader with providing important personal insights and driving him to exemplify leadership through helping others.

“I was shy and thought that I did not have what it takes to lead projects,” said Cabral. “Being a civic engagement leader gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and start the journey to find myself.

“I enjoyed my community service projects and loved every single one of the alternative spring breaks. I learned something new from each trip.”

Wesley Cabral ’21, Communication Studies

THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

foundation & alumni engagement

79 Upper College Road | Kingston, RI 02881-2023 | campaign.uri.edu