Fort Lewis College Joins Work-Based Learning Initiative

Fort Lewis College has been selected as one of five rural Colorado colleges to participate in CO-WIL, the Colorado Work-Integrated Learning Consortium. The three-year pilot program connects students with real employer projects inside the classroom, allowing them to earn a minimum $250 stipend while getting academic credit. The state intentionally selected rural colleges first, with the goal of scaling the program statewide if successful. The program will initially support courses in computer information systems, psychology, nutrition and studio art and is expected to get underway in the coming months.

By Sadie Smith

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SPEAKER_00 0:00

Colorado is turning to rural colleges to expand work-based learning opportunities for students, and Fort Lewis is one of five selected. You're watching the Local News Network, brought to you by Freddie's Frozen Custard and Steak Burgers and Durango Gelato Coffee and Tea. COWILL, short for Colorado Work Integrated Learning, is a three-year pilot program that connects students with employers through project-based learning. The other four colleges selected include Adams State University, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Colorado Mountain College, and Lamar Community College.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

The state of Colorado is doing a really cool thing where with this project they're prioritizing rural communities because their theory, which I believe is if we can figure this out in rural where things are more difficult, then they can scale to urban very quickly.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Created by a state house bill and funded with more than $5.6 million, the program works by matching students with employers who will give them projects to complete as part of their regular coursework.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

These aren't fake projects, it's not imaginary work. It's an actual project that the business needs done and they'll bring it to these students. They will do it as part of their curriculum, as part of their credits that they're getting. And actually, what's really cool about this is the students will get paid a minimum of $250 for this work that they do as part of their class and gain credit for it.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

Unlike a traditional internship, the Cobill Initiative brings the work experience directly into the classroom as part of the students' regular coursework.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

An internship is one-on-one, and that requires a lot of the employer's attention, and it requires a lot of commitment on the students' part too. Some of our students have jobs that they can't leave because they're trying to pay for their education. Some have transportation issues. And with it's internships just don't scale as quickly as something like this can.

SPEAKER_00 1:52

Fort Lewis is partnering with Bripen, a work-based learning platform that connects industry partners with students. Small groups of students will be placed with a single employer to complete projects that align with their course curricula. Students are paid for the project work, and faculty will receive stipend for additional training and implementation.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

Project-based learning makes learning come alive. How many people out there have been in a class where you're like, I just don't know how I'm going to use this skill? I don't see this playing out. And then you do a project and you're like, ah, I used that skill. And for students, it makes the curriculum come alive. It shows them how they will use these skills in their future. And honestly, it can help students be more connected and more committed to their education because they see the value in it immediately.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

The grant runs for three years, allowing five semesters of students to pilot the program. The program will initially support courses in computer information systems, psychology, nutrition, and studio art.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

I'm hoping that this builds into something that just becomes commonplace and everyone's like, oh yeah, work integrated learning at Fort Lewis College, project based learning in my classroom. That makes sense. That's just a normal thing that we do.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

For more information, visit fortlewis.edu. And for more stories like this, visit lnn.news.