All students have an Engaged Learning graduation requirement. Freshman or first-year transfer students are required to earn 6 Engaged Learning points in at least two different Engaged Learning categories. Transfer students who have 31 or more accepted transfer credits need to earn 3 Engaged Learning points in any one category or combination of different categories.
We know that student athletes have a lot of demands on their time. This makes it especially important that you plan during your first year at Rider how you will earn the Engaged Learning points you need to graduate.
How Will an Athlete Earn Engaged Learning Points?
Points you automatically earn each semester:
- Freshman student athletes will not automatically earn any points for being on the official NCAA roster. During this year you will begin to build relationships with your teammates and others across campus and sharpen your leadership skills.
- Sophomore, Junior and Senior student athletes will automatically receive 1 point in the category Leadership and Mentoring each semester that you are on the official NCAA roster that the Director of Athletics submits to the Registrar’s Office. You do not need to submit an Engaged Learning Experience Form in Canvas to earn this point. Note: you will still need to earn at least 1 point in a category other than Leadership and Mentoring.
- Team Captains will earn 3 points in the category Leadership and Mentoring each semester that they serve as a Captain. You do not need to submit anything in Canvas to earn those points. You still need to earn at least 1 point in a category other than Leadership and Mentoring.
- Note that the points awarded at the milestones above are all earned in the Leadership and Mentoring category. You must earn 1 point in any other Engaged Learning category to complete your Engaged Learning graduation requirement.
Documentation Requirement:
- During your Junior year or Fall of your Senior year, you are required to:
- complete and submit an Engaged Learning Experience Form, and
- post your NCAA Athlete Capstone reflection on Canvas.
- The capstone will be reviewed by the Athletic Coordinator and must be approved before you can graduate. Failure to complete this requirement by Fall of your Senior year may delay your graduation clearance.
- Your NCAA Athlete Capstone reflection should focus on your experience as a Division 1 student athlete, leader, mentor and teammate, we well as answer the four Engaged Learning questions posted on Canvas.
Additional Options to Earn Points in a Second Category
All of your student athlete points are earned in the Leadership and Mentoring category. You may still need to earn one or more points in a different category to meet your graduation requirement. You should discuss with your academic advisor which of the following options would benefit you most:
- Complete the New Student Engagement Experience during your first year at Rider. See the NSEE page for information on earning one point in Civic and Community Engagement. This experience can only be completed during your first year and for many athletes will provide the second category (CCE) needed to complete your graduation requirement.
- Each college/school has a designated Career Coach who will meet with you, and Career Development and Success can assist you in securing an Enriched Career Experience. Go to Handshake to attend a workshop or schedule an appointment with your career coach. Contact them to schedule a meeting in your Freshman or Sophomore year to maximize the benefits of this opportunity.
- Earn points by completing a course that has been approved to earn EL points in a category other than Leadership and Mentoring (LM). See the list of courses that earn points.
- Volunteer Community Service – as a student athlete you participate in activities that fit the guidelines of volunteer service at Rider. Follow the instructions on the Community Service page to understand what service is and learn how to submit the hours you volunteered.
- Other experiences that you participate in can also earn EL points. Review the list of experiences to see if you have or would like to participate in one that can earn points. If you have 20+ hours in one of these experiences, follow these two easy steps to earn the points:
- Complete and submit an Engaged Learning Experience Form;
- Post your reflection on Canvas. Click here for instructions.