Fall Experiential Learning Projects at UW-River Falls Underway, New Projects Sought for Spring

November 4, 2013 -- The University of Wisconsin-River Falls students enrolled in the Experiential Learning course recently met with their clients to launch this fall's experiential learning projects. Each semester UWRF students in this senior level course apply their academic knowledge to real world projects that have been selected from those submitted by businesses, community organizations and government agencies. 

Projects students are working on this fall include drafting a business plan for a company distributing composted cow manure; writing a feasibility study for a domestic violence county court system; creating a marketing plan for a company selling an educational DVD on self-awareness; drafting a business plan for a garden center that hires adults with disabilities; creating a feasibility study on using goats for the management of brushy areas of public lands for the Wisconsin DNR; drafting a business plan for a local farmer wanting to raise and sell organic hops; developing a tool kit of fact sheets for farmers wanting to do on-farm processing; and drafting a marketing plan for a spirituality center that wants to expand its programming and clientele.  

Projects are already being sought for spring semester that begins Jan. 27, 2014. If you are interested in having a group of UWRF students work on a project for your business or organization, email juliet.tomkins@uwrf.edu by Nov. 20 or call the number listed below.

A past client includes the Pierce County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which had students evaluate the feasibility of a drug and alcohol juvenile outpatient treatment program in Pierce County. On behalf of the Council, Judge Joseph Boles expressed appreciation for the work done by the students.

"It was clear from [the students] presentation and final report that many hours went into the research, interviews and documentation of the study. These were man-hours that Piece County did not have access to in any other way. Your students gave us the first concrete step to making a dream a reality," wrote Boles in a letter.

For more information or if you are interested in students working on a project, contact Juliet Tomkins, UWRF adjunct professor, at juliet.tomkins@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3298.