Experiential Learning Leeds School of Business: Experiential Learning Partnerships The Badami Office of Experiential Learning (BOEL) empowers Leeds students to turn learning into action by integrating academic rigor, applied industry projects, and purposeful reflection—preparing them for impact in the business world and beyond. BOEL offers consulting-style, company-sponsored projects that are both hosted outside of the classroom as well as embedded into classes within the Leeds curriculum. Co-Curricular Projects (Outside of the Classroom): These projects entail a group of ~4-6 students working directly with a company to meet specified deliverables and solve real business problems under the guidance of a peer mentor and a faculty advisor. Companies can submit project ideas to Erin Penberthy ([email protected]) who will schedule an intake call to learn more and then draft a Scope of Work document outlining deliverables and goals. Once finalized, students can apply directly to the project and the company can either select a team from a pool of applicants, or, if desired, the BOEL staff can form a student team. BOEL serves both the undergraduate and graduate student populations, and companies may stipulate which they would like to work with. The typical timeline of these projects is 4-8 weeks, though there is flexibility depending on project complexity and scope. Curricular Projects (Embedded into Classes): These projects are embedded into classes based on project scope and are led by the faculty member who teaches the class. In this model, the entire class of students participates in the project. Companies can submit ideas for a curricular project to Heather Kennedy ([email protected]) who will schedule an intake call to learn more and determine which class(es) the project is best suited. Projects embedded into classes are unpaid, as students receive course credit. How Companies Benefit: Companies can benefit greatly from engaging in experiential learning projects. They receive consultation from a group of motivated students who will work to meet specific deliverables in a short timeframe. These students will be overseen by both a peer mentor who has been hired and vetted by the Office of Experiential Learning as well as a Leeds faculty member. Additionally, engaging in experiential projects can assist companies in building a talent pipeline. Over the course of 1-2 months, companies see how students approach problems, communicate, and deliver on commitments—insights that go well beyond a resume or interview. As such, companies can see proof of concept before hiring. These partnerships allow companies to address specific business needs while contributing to the development of Colorado's future business professionals and strengthening connections with the Leeds School of Business and CU Boulder. Experiential Learning Website click here
