Welcome to The Hub
The Hub for Experiential Learning within Rockhurst University's College of Business & Technology supports several high-impact activities that are primarily “outside of the traditional classroom” experiences for undergraduate and graduate students in Kansas City. These experiential learning activities will enhance student retention and success, graduates’ professional readiness and career progression, and alumni engagement.
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What is Experiential Learning?
Experiential learning is an engaged learning process in which you "learn by doing" and reflect on your experiences. This dynamic approach to education aligns with the Jesuit commitment to fostering discernment, reflection, and action in the pursuit of knowledge and justice
According to recent research by NACE, AAC&U, and SEE (2025), students who participate in high-impact practices like those coordinated by The Hub are more likely to persist through college and have higher GPAs and a shorter time-to-degree. Experiential learning activities also help close achievement gaps for first-generation students and students of color by fostering engagement, belonging, and deeper learning. Students who engage in experiential learning and high-impact practices also report faster career progression, higher career satisfaction, greater access to mentors and professional networks, and an average of $15,000 more in their salaries compared to peers
Experiential Learning Activities & Opportunities at Rockhurst University
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Internships & Co-ops
The Hub provides additional support for students to discuss, plan, and prepare for internships. The Hub works with local companies to create student internships and with faculty to help connect degrees, curriculum, and internship paths. The Hub coordinates micro-internships within the curriculum and will assist with placements in collaboration with the Center for Career Development.
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Hands-on Projects & Capstone Experiences
CB&T students have multiple classes where they can integrate classwork with real business projects and work on projects with a company. The Hub will be a centralized point of contact that connects businesses with faculty to integrate hands-on projects into their classes. The Hub will also coordinate capstone experiences for students and work with Mission and Ministry as a resource for faculty to access these experiences, including service learning.
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Study Abroad/Study Away
The Hub will support the University’s centralized study abroad/study away program through a short-term study abroad/study away program administered by CB&T and by coordinating with other Jesuit business schools on their business-specific study abroad programs, typically at an Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) international campus.
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Executive in Residence (EIR)
Each academic year, The Hub will host an EIR. These recently retired or semi-retired executive leaders from a wide range of industries will support The Hub's activities, such as advising, mentoring, and bridging theory and practice. The dean appoints an EIR for a defined term and set of activities aligned with the EIR's interests and the college's needs.
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Networking, Professional Development and Alumni Engagement
The Hub will coordinate and be a source of information for hosting various events on and off campus. Off-campus events may be held at companies led by or employing Rockhurst graduates and will be coordinated with Advancement and Alumni Relations. The Hub will also help coordinate activities with CB&T Dean’s Advisory Board members and their companies.
The Hub will focus on networking, professional development, and engagement with our alumni and their organizations.
Resources & More
My name is Brenna McAdam, and I am a senior Strategic Communication student at Rockhurst University with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising. This summer, I've had the pleasure of interning with Parris Communications, a highly respected public relations firm in Kansas City.
Internship Stories
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This summer, I had the opportunity to intern in the Audit Department at Forvis Mazars, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. This internship gave me the chance to apply the knowledge I’ve gained in the classroom to real-world clients and business situations while further developing my technical and professional skills.
The internship began with training in Orlando, Florida, where I learned how to navigate client binders, collaborate with colleagues, and build a strong foundation in the firm's audit processes. Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to work on financial statement audits and employee benefit plan engagements, gaining hands-on experience that strengthened my understanding of the audit profession.
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Lockton is a phenomenal organization to work for because of the talented professionals that are employed there, and because of their philosophy of client first service. Both of these factors help make Lockton one of the most well-respected organizations in Kansas City and across the nation.
This past week, I had the opportunity to present my summer internship project at Lockton's global headquarters in Kansas City. During the course of this summer internship, our team of interns worked hard to calculate the ROI for Lockton to acquire the premium license of Microsoft Copilot for all People Solutions associates within Founder's Series.
More about The Hub:
The Experiential Learning Hub initiative reflects our shared commitment to advancing institutional priorities and fostering innovation and collaboration across the academic enterprise.
To complement the University’s centralized general career services provided by the Center for Career Development, the Hub will assist CB&T students with vocational discernment, specialized guidance for jobs in business and technology, industry connections, and professional development support to help them launch successfully into a career.
Contact Information
For questions or to be involved in The Hub, please contact its director:
Lilly Coye, Ed.D.
lilly.coye@rockhurst.edu
816-501-4027
Conway Hall 201F