Experiential Learning

About the EXACT plan

Quality Enhancement Plan: EXACT Plan

The experiential learning and critical thinking (EXACT) plan – GGC’s quality enhancement plan (QEP) – benefits GGC students by providing access to experiential learning experiences and enhanced development of foundational critical thinking skills. Unique to GGC, the EXACT plan applies across all degree programs and all curriculum levels (1000- to 4000-level courses).

Experiential learning experiences and critical thinking skills represent value to employers and a career advantage for employees and employment applicants.

EXACT courses engage students in experiential learning through the following activity stages.

Experience: have experiences.
Reflection: review and reflect on experiences.
Abstract conceptualization: analyze what you’ve learned and how it can be applied.
Experimentation: try out what you’ve learned.

A critical element of experiential learning is the use of reflection. Through reflection, students examine their experiences, thoughts and actions, leading to a deeper comprehension of concepts beyond mere memorization. Students uncover insights and connections that promote enhanced understanding and critical thinking skills through the following reflection steps.

Describe the activity.
Examine and explain what course concepts apply to the activity.
Articulate what's learned from the activity and how it can be used in future courses or careers.

The EXACT Plan develops four critical thinking skills throughout your experiential learning experiences. The following skill development enhances a student’s ability to think through situations, information and problems in meaningful and productive ways.

Evaluation and interpretation of information
Problem solving
Effective communications
Analysis of alternative assumptions and conditions

Learn About EXACT Participation

EXACT Plan Participation

At each course level – from Core IMPACT classes to senior level capstone classes – coursework and time are dedicated to EXACT experiential learning activities which facilitate critical thinking skillsets such as effective communication, evaluation/interpretation of information, problem-solving and/or analyzing alternative assumptions.

EXACT participation extends beyond the classroom with opportunities on campus and in the surrounding community. Or become an EXACT scholar to enjoy additional benefits.

EXACT Plan Student Advisory Board: Contact ExperientialLearning [at] ggc.edu (ExperientialLearning[at]ggc[dot]edu) to serve as the representative for your school.
Service learning: View GGC Serves opportunities or email StudentAffairs [at] ggc.edu for more information.
EXACT scholar: Achieve an EXACT scholar designation with yearly recognition and transcript notation upon graduation.

EXACT Scholars Program

At the heart of the EXACT Plan is a commitment to empowering students to take charge of their own learning journey. GGC believes that the most meaningful education happens when students engage directly with real-world challenges. That’s why the college is excited to introduce the EXACT Scholars program – a student recognition initiative designed to celebrate those who actively seek out experiential learning opportunities.

Expand access to experiential learning throughout the curriculum, ensuring every student can benefit from hands-on opportunities.
Integrate knowledge across different learning experiences to facilitate the development of critical thinking skills.
Enable students to articulate how what they learned can assist them with their future success, connecting classroom lessons to real-world goals.
Recognize students for the commitment they have made to self-discovery and reflection, honoring their dedication to personal and academic growth.

As an EXACT Scholar, students are recognized for their dedication to hands-on experiences that sharpen their critical thinking skills. This isn’t just about adding a line to a résumé; it’s about becoming a leader among peers, inspiring others to push boundaries and think deeply.

By embracing experiential learning, students are not only gaining practical skills but also developing the ability to analyze, adapt and innovate – qualities that set them apart in any field. The EXACT Scholars program is an opportunity to shine, to be recognized for initiative, and to become part of a community that values curiosity, resilience and growth.

Step up, stand out and let the journey as an EXACT Scholar begin!

There are four levels of achievement. Each level requires EXACT course reflections, Mastering Career Readiness module completions, and a reflection essay on the effects of these activities toward their academic and/or career success with artifacts demonstrating the effects.

EXACT participant (students with 0-30 credits)
EXACT protégé (students with 31-60 credits)
EXACT practitioner (students with 61-90 credits)
EXACT professional (students with 91+ credits)

Getting Started

This structured yet flexible approach to this student recognition program ensures that students gain meaningful experiences tailored to their needs and schedules.

Schedule a meeting with the EXACT Plan staff through GivePulse (login required) to receive more instructions and set up your SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio.

SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio template is used to record activities and reflections.

Participant, protégé, practitioner level due dates:

Fall submission: Oct. 1
Spring submission: April 1
Summer submission: Aug. 1

Professional level due dates:

Fall graduation submission: Oct. 1
Spring and summer graduation submission: March 1

Digital badges and/or certificates awarded for completed levels within the program. At the professional level, transcript notation will be earned.

Experiential Learning Opportunities that Facilitate Critical Thinking Skills

Two EXACT courses

and/or
One EXACT course and one co-curricular activity

Description: EXACT Courses are courses which have been developed to incorporate experiential learning opportunities that facilitate critical thinking skills directly within the course design. These courses include SL&L reflections as part of the EXACT assignment.

Documentation: Students only need to link the SL&L reflection from the course to their SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio.

Specific EXACT courses (as of fall 2025): ITEC 1001, HIST 1112, EXSC 2000, EDUC 2120, BUSA 2105, ENGL 1102, CHEM 1211K, HIST 2250

Description: Courses which have experiences such as (but not limited to) laboratories, service-learning activities, field experiences, classroom simulations/role playing activities, research projects, study abroad, work-based projects, internships, professional shadowing, peer tutoring, peer mentoring, field trips.

Documentation: Students will complete a SL&L reflection to demonstrate critical thinking skills obtained through the course activities.

Description: Activities outside of courses which have experiences such as (but not limited to) professional shadowing, peer tutoring, peer mentoring, study abroad, alternative break program, internships, RSO leadership positions, on-campus work positions (e.g., resident assistant, student assistant, ambassador programs, work-study positions that incorporate experiential learning opportunities).

Documentation: Students will complete a SL&L reflection to demonstrate critical thinking skills obtained through the co-curricular activities.

Description: Mastering Career Readiness modules are located on MyCourses.ggc.edu. There are six modules to be completed for the various levels of the EXACT Scholars program. Some EXACT courses, as well as other courses, utilize these modules as part of course assignments.

Documentation: When a student completes a module, regardless of whether it is through a course or independently, a certificate of completion is obtained. This certificate of completion can be uploaded to the student’s SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio.

Description: At each level, there is a reflection focusing on the effects of the experiential learning activities have had toward a student’s academic and/or career success. Students should also provide artifacts from the courses and/or co-curricular activities that exemplify the information expressed in the reflection. The reflection can take either written or oral formats with instructions provided by the EXACT Plan staff and located within the SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio.

Documentation: The reflection and artifacts will be uploaded to the appropriate SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio .

Following submission, the SL&L EXACT Scholars ePortfolio will be evaluated by an EXACT Plan team using a standard rubric (EXACT Scholars candidacy reflection rubric).

For those submissions not meeting the evaluation criteria, students will receive feedback and mentorship regarding a resubmission.

Appropriate artifacts: Appropriate artifacts include (but are not limited to): laboratory reports, written papers for courses, oral presentations for courses, oral (videos of presentations made at academic or co-curricular conferences) or written presentations (STaRS, CREATE, and/or other academic or co-curricular presentation abstracts, PPTs, posters), evidence of creative or artistic activities (e.g. photography, poetry, film clips, musical pieces, artistic works), documentation of civic engagement or job responsibilities.

Do not include Mastering Career Readiness certificates of completion as appropriate artifacts for the reflection.

EXACT Scholar level Checklists

Requirement	Completed
0-30 credits
1000 level course reflection (C or better in course)
1000 level course reflection (C or better in course) or co-curricular activity
Mastering Career Readiness Module 1 (explore) certificate of completion
Mastering Career Readiness Module 2 (prepare) certificate of completion
EXACT Participant Reflection: How will the experiential learning experiences and corresponding critical thinking skillsets assist you to continue with your academic career in your sophomore year? (See reflection guidelines for specific instructions located within the SL&L ePortfolio template.)
EXACT Participant Reflection Assessment: Developing or better in three of five outcomes (see reflection rubric located within the SL&L ePortfolio template).
Reflection Artifacts: Provide at least two artifacts from the courses and/or co-curricular activities (besides the reflections and Mastering Career Readiness module certificates of completion) that exemplify the information expressed in the reflection.

Requirement	Completed
31 – 60 credits
2000 level course reflection (C or better in course)
2000 level course reflection (C or better in course) or co-curricular activity
Mastering Career Readiness Module 3 (connect) certificate of completion
EXACT Protégé Reflection: How will the experiential learning experiences and corresponding critical thinking skillsets assist you as you enter your major courses at GGC? (See reflection guidelines for specific instructions located within the SL&L ePortfolio template.)
EXACT Protege Reflection Assessment: Developing or better in five of five outcomes (see reflection rubric located within the SL&L ePortfolio template).
Reflection Artifacts: Provide at least two artifacts from the courses and/or co-curricular activities (besides the reflections and Mastering Career Readiness module certificates of completion) that exemplify the information expressed in the reflection.

Requirement	Completed
61 – 90 credits
3000/4000 level course reflection (C or better in course)
3000/4000 level course reflection (C or better in course) or co-curricular activity
Mastering Career Readiness Module 4 (apply) certificate of completion
Mastering Career Readiness Module 5 (brand) certificate of completion
EXACT Practitioner Reflection: How will the experiential learning experiences and corresponding critical thinking skillsets will assist you toward graduation? (See reflection guidelines for specific instructions located within the SL&L ePortfolio template.)
EXACT Practitioner Reflection Assessment: Proficient or better in three of five outcomes (see reflection rubric located within the SL&L ePortfolio template).
Reflection Artifacts: Provide at least three artifacts from the courses and/or co-curricular activities (besides the reflections and Mastering Career Readiness module certificates of completion) that exemplify the information expressed in the reflection.

Requirement	Completed
90+ credits
EXACT Scholars Participant or Protégé certificate or equivalent
EXACT Scholars Practitioner certificate or equivalent
3000/4000 level course reflection (C or better in course)
3000/4000 level course reflection (C or better in course) or co-curricular activity
Mastering Career Readiness Modules 2-5 certificates of completion if not done within previous EXACT Scholars levels
Mastering Career Readiness Module 6 (achieve) certificate of completion
EXACT Professional Reflection: How will the experiential learning experiences and corresponding critical thinking skillsets assist you toward your career goals? (See reflection guidelines for specific instructions located within the SL&L ePortfolio template.)
EXACT Participant Reflection Assessment: Proficient or better in five of five outcomes (see reflection rubric located within the SL&L ePortfolio template).
Reflection Artifacts: Provide at least four artifacts from the courses and/or co-curricular activities (besides the reflections and Mastering Career Readiness module certificates of completion) that exemplify the information expressed in the reflection.