CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (September 28, 2023) — Students at Coe College will receive advanced insights into the day-to-day demands of their chosen industry with the implementation of an industry-leading experiential-learning platform as part of the course curriculum. The learning platform, Riipen, will integrate real-world, employer-designed projects into existing courses to equip students with skills, applicable experiences, and professional connections to support their future careers.
The opportunity to integrate Riipen is in partnership with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), which selected Coe as one of the 25 inaugural institutions to participate in the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Consortium. The CIC is an association of more than 700 non-profit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher-education affiliates.
The WBL intends to ease student barriers to internship access and job-market preparation, particularly for students from underrepresented groups. Access to Riipen is valued at over $65,000 per institution and will be administered free of charge to the selected colleges and universities.
“This is an exciting opportunity for students to gain valuable hands-on experience through internships embedded in their courses. That these internships are available to all students regardless of where they are located levels the playing field for all students. We are grateful to our funders for making this possible,” said Titi Ufomata, CIC senior vice president for academic programs.
Inclusion in the WBL strengthens Coe’s already-robust and well-regarded commitment to experiential learning. With the college’s location in Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city, Kohawks are able to access hundreds of internships within walking distance of campus, and even more nationally through the college’s engaged alumni network, which includes 4,000 local Kohawk graduates. The Princeton Review currently ranks Coe as the N° 12 private school in the nation for internships, and lists Coe as having the N° 8 Best Career Services nationally.
With the selection process completed, CIC and Riipen will work with an on-campus Coe team to update curricula and integrate experiential learning into course materials beginning Spring 2024.
The on-campus team at Coe is spearheaded by Associate Dean for Faculty Development Marc Falk and Associate Vice President for Advancement Barb Tupper.
“Experience is such a crucial part of education, so this is a fantastic addition for our students and faculty. We expect this to heighten our abilities to continue increasing skills and creating connections for our students and within our community,” said Tupper.
“This is another valuable tool for Coe students and faculty. Riipen will help strengthen students’ ability to apply what they learn in the classroom to a career field, and that level of real-world application is exactly what employers are looking for,” Falk added.
For the past decade, nearly 100% of reporting Coe graduates are either employed, continuing their education, enlisted in the military, or volunteering full-time within nine months of graduation.
Coe College offers superb academics and exciting extracurricular activities in a thriving urban setting that promotes student growth and success. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a student-centered, highly-supportive campus environment. Coe’s vibrant Cedar Rapids location provides an abundance of internships for students and career opportunities for graduates.
