Experiential Learning at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Four students work together on a design project

Mission: The Experiential Learning Team provides overall support to students engaged in 
experiential learning opportunities. Serving as a bridge between students’ academic preparation and 
their career outcome, through constant communication, we empower students to discover and take 
charge of their long-term career trajectory.


What We Do: We are student, employer, and campus-facing. We strive to help students navigate 
experiential learning opportunities while working with internal and external constituents to ensure 
these opportunities exist and continue to grow.

Experiential Learning

  • Dawn Cairns-Weaver - Associate Director of Experiential Learning - Email: cairnd@rpi.edu
  • Emily Nicholson - Assistant Director of Experiential Learning Email: nichoe3@rpi.edu
  • Stephanie Perry - Experiential Learning Program Assistant - Email: perrys2@rpi.edu

You are about to embark on an exciting journey that will lead to new paths in your career development. Along the way, you will cultivate critical technical and leadership skills, meet great professionals, and learn new things about yourself. We are very pleased to welcome you as a new “co-op,” “intern” and/or “Arch Away” student! 

This Experiential Learning Guide is an important reference for you; it contains important information, so please refer to it often while you are away!

The Arch, Co-op, and Internship

Quick Facts

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