Career Readiness & Experiential Learning Services

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Career Readiness & Experiential Learning Services (CRELS) is a new department at SPC dedicated to connecting students with internships and other Experiential Learning opportunities that help guide their career decisions. This department is also intended to collaborate with Student Life in assisting SPC faculty, staff, and student organizations hoping to conduct Experiential Learning events that promote career readiness and incorporate our employer partners.

Students needing help with career exploration, resume review, mock interview, or job search/application can refer to SPC’s Career Services webpage for additional services and resources.

Please be sure to visit CRELS in AlamoEXPERIENCE for additional services, resources and events. Canvas portal for CRELS coming soon so students, faculty, and staff have up-to-date information and resources regarding Experiential Learning opportunities and Career Readiness resources.

Are you an employer or community organization hoping to connect SPC students with Experiential Learning or job opportunities?

Employers and community organizations can visit https://alamo.edu/partnerships to explore how they can partner with SPC and the Alamo Colleges District to offer Experiential Learning or employment opportunities for our students.

Grow with Google: HSI Career Readiness Program

You're working hard to achieve your career goals and for that, we're here to help you transition successfully toward professional life. The Grow with Google HSI Career Readiness Program sets you up with the digital skills needed to land a job and thrive in the modern workplace. Let's go! Follow the steps below to get started today!

  1. Visit https://bit.ly/SPCskillshop and click Sign In in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Create a Skillshop account using your Alamo Student Email address.
  3. Click on the icon in the upper right-hand corner, then select My Profile.
  4. Click Edit Profile, then
    1. Under Company type St. Philip's College.
    2. Add your Alamo Student Email under Company Email.
    3. Add your country and timezone.
    4. Scroll down and click Save or Continue.
  5. Go back to Edit Profile, then select Connect your Google Account and click Agree & Continue, then Save.
  6. Once the page refreshes go to the My Profile page then click "Unverified - send email confirmation"
  7. Verify message sent to Alamo Student Email address.
  8. Visit https://bit.ly/GwGHSICRP to gain special access to the HSI Grow with Google Career Readiness Program (not the Grow with Google modules).
  9. Start completing courses and pathways to win prizes!

Download the Instructions

What is Experiential Learning?

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DEFINITION
Experiential Learning is the development of new skills and/or perspectives gained through experience and personal reflection.

MISSION
Provide Alamo Colleges students with Experiential Learning opportunities that enhance student learning and serve to guide career pathways.

VISION
Transform every student’s life through Experiential Learning.


Experiential Learning Types

  • Co-Curricular Learning: Activities related to course curriculum; ex. Public Speakers, Panels

  • Extra-Curricular: Activities that foster student involvement and strengthen the culture of the institution; ​ex. Clubs, Student organizations, Interest groups, Sports

  • Field Experience: Activities related to career application; ex. Internships, Practicums, Job Shadowing

  • Service Learning/Community Service: Guided service to the community that is related to instruction; ex. Food Pantry, Habit for Humanity

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Experiential Learning Credit

Students
  • Experience Transcript: The Experience Transcript is a document that records all Experiential Learning activities students participate in during their time with SPC. Students refer to their Experience Transcript when developing their detailed resumes and cover letters during the internship or job application process.
    • Follow the steps below to access your Experience Transcript:
      1. Login to ACES and select the “Student” tab.
      2. Click on the AlamoEXPERIENCE logo and sign in.
      3. Click your profile picture at the top-right of the screen.
      4. Select “Experience Transcript”.
      5. You are now able to print or save the transcript as a PDF.
    • Students can add to their Experience Transcript by filling out the following form  to give information on the experiential learning event or activity they attend during their time with SPC:

Department of Student Life Experiential Learning Request Form

  • Reach out to CRELS staff to explore or apply for Experiential Learning opportunities that will help guide your career decisions or give you experience in your intended field.
Faculty & Staff
  • If faculty or staff have already conducted an experiential learning event they should submit the following form to have students who attended or participated in the event credited on their Experience Transcript:

Faculty/Staff – Report Experiential Learning Activity

  • For questions or assistance in completing forms please reach out to CRELS staff or Student Life Admin for your respective AlamoINSTITUTE:
  • Feel free to reach out to CRELS Staff for additional support in any part of planning, outreaching, implementing, and documenting your Experiential Learning event.
  • Faculty & Staff can refer employer partners to CRELS staff to discuss the collaborative connections with the SPC campuses and our students. Also, submit job opportunities forwarded to you if you would like CRELS staff to verify the validity of the opportunity.

Looking for Experiential Learning Opportunities?

    • AlamoEXPERIENCE Events Calendar: this is where all events and activities coordinated across SPC will be listed. Students are also encouraged to review student organizations that may relate to their academic or career goals.

    • Handshake: database of employer contacts, internships, job opportunities, and employer-organized events. Students who complete their profile in Handshake have a better chance of getting noticed by recruiters in their career field of interest. Recruiters are a great source of information regarding the company they work for and are eager to answer any questions about their organization.

    • Student Engagement Grants: opportunity to get involved with a special initiative, meeting other students, and developing a network of professional contacts. Financial support is provided to each student and is only available to SPC students. Identify the extracurricular experience you are looking for.

    • Center of Excellence for Math: community outreach programs and student research project opportunities that encourage and offer different opportunities for students wanting to major in the STEM field.

    • Center of Excellence for Science: funded student research opportunities and student instructional assistantships for outreach initiatives to the community.

    • CIMA-LSAMP Program: undergraduate research, internship, scholarship, and networking opportunities for STEM students.

    • Office of Workplace Learning: review paid internships within the non-profit and private sector available through your Federal Work-Study Program Grant.
    • Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU): review all the types of internships available through HACU's National Internship Program, and when you are there be sure to check the navigation pane on the left to review more information on applying to the program (Spirng 2022 internship application deadline is October 2021) and click here for more information regarding their Corporate Internship Program.

    • HBCU National Center (HBCUNC): a collection of websites to search internships within the heart of Washington, D.C. HBCUNC offers a grant program to pay for housing during the internship experience.

    • Base 11-Bolue Fellowship Program: Base11 promotes pathways to STEM careers and entrepreneurship, especially from women and BIPOC who are often underrepresented in those fields. Join Base11 Digital to gain access to the Boule Fellowship program, which connects you with mentors in the STEM field to help you navigate your career pathway!

    • Pathways Program: federal internship and employment opportunities for current students, recent graduates and those with an advanced degree.

Contact Information

Career Experience Team Lead:
Nathan Martinez
nmartinez324@alamo.edu
210-486-2351
MLK Sutton Learning Center (SLC), 102D
Certified Career Experience Navigator:
Fernando Rover Jr.
froverjr@alamo.edu
210-486-7242
SWC Industrial Technology Center (ITC), B172G

Hours of Operation

Hours of Operation for August:

Mon-Thurs
Fri
Sat
8:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Regular Hours of Operation

Mon, Tue, Thus, Fri
Wed
1st Saturdays of month
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.