"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
–John Dewey
John Dewey's maxim captures the latest phase in our long-range plan for adaptive reuse of existing campus buildings to better serve the evolving needs of the Sarah Lawrence community. Experiential learning is, simply put, this college's superpower and we are excited to create a center dedicated to it.
Beyond the Classroom: A Center for Experiential Learning
At Sarah Lawrence College, education extends far beyond the classroom. Programming in the areas of Career Services, Community Partnerships & Engagement, Global Education, SLC EmbeddED, and Preprofessional Advising creates and facilitates an enormous range of opportunities for students beyond campus. This focus on experiential learning is central to Sarah Lawrence's mission to prepare students to tackle the problems of, and thrive in, a complex and rapidly evolving world.
To amplify the impact and effectiveness of these critical programs, we are reimagining not just how they are housed but how students will work with and benefit from them. A presently unused front-facing section of the Performing Arts Center provides an ideal location for a new center for experiential learning.
Project Goals At-a-Glance
- Bring together SLC EmbeddED, Community Partnerships, Career Services, and Global Education into a single location with shared resources by leveraging currently unused space in the Performing Arts Center at the “front door” of the campus
- Create an open, vibrant co-working space that embodies the key elements of the College's mission, which is to prepare students for the work environment beyond campus
- Enlarge the existing PAC 2 classroom to serve, along with the PAC 3 classroom, as conveniently located flagship teaching and gathering spaces
An Opportunity for Greater Impact
Currently dispersed across campus, the offices and programs noted above will be co-located to create a collaborative "one-stop shop" that will streamline access and allow students to seamlessly engage with the opportunities that connect their education to the world beyond campus from the moment they arrive.
Located at the heart of campus — across from the Barbara Walters Campus Center, in close proximity to the HUB, and just steps away from the College's main entrance — the unused space in the Performing Arts Center offers a perfect opportunity to enhance the visibility and accessibility of these services and programs for current students as well as alumni, employers, community partners, and others. The prominent location will also increase awareness of these offerings among prospective students and families, who are increasingly focused on post-college outcomes.
Beyond co-locating the staff and faculty who lead these programs, this new center will feature coworking spaces for student collaboration as well as a professional backdrop for students working in remote internships, engaging in private mentoring sessions, or interviewing with employers.
Get Involved
For information on how you can support this important transformation and make an impact on the lives of our students, please contact:
Patricia Goldman
Vice President for Advancement & External Relations
914.813.9201
pgoldman@sarahlawrence.edu