Real World

“To be sure, UPJ is never all theory without practice or application; nor will it be all work and no play, or, for that matter, all head and no heart! In fact, the formal classroom is but one aspect of the total experience. Your educational journey is greatly enhanced by the availability of multiple venues for personal development, including study abroad, internships, civic engagement, volunteering, athletics, and leadership activities in a plethora of student associations. In effect, you will have many opportunities to connect your classroom instruction with the exciting, challenging, gritty, and sometimes disquieting realities of the world beyond campus. You will be Ready for the Real World.”

—Dr. Jem Spectar

The UPJ Real World Experience is a unique opportunity for students to get involved in our communities in ways that prepare them for success, leadership, and service in life after college. The UPJ Real World Experience provides UPJ students with a structured program to achieve genuine civic engagement, to keep a record of specific efforts, and to benefit from both the personal growth, and the public, documented recognition of their acts.

Goals: The UPJ Real World Experience seeks to encourage participation in citizenship activities as well to cultivate, strengthen, and support the habits of effective citizenship from the local to the global level, including:

       ·        Community Service/Civic Engagement

       ·        Leadership Development

       ·        Social and Cultural Involvement

       ·        Teamwork/Collaborative Approach

The UPJ Real World Experience provides structured and guided opportunities to participate, lead, or serve the community according to the student’s preference. Recognizing that students are increasingly interested in public service and leadership, The UPJ Real World Experience is designed to facilitate and recognize participation. In addition to engaging on the local and national levels, Real World Experience students who are encouraged and supported in that show an appreciation of the world beyond our borders and localities.