Frequently Asked Questions
Updated Jan. 28, 2026.
Please send your questions to appliedlearning@ksu.edu.
How were the six applied learning experiences selected?
Applied learning experiences are available throughout K-State and likely include more opportunities than are reflected. The six experiences were selected because they are readily available to learners across disciplines, have been proven effective educational practices, and are also observed at peer institutions. The Applied Learning teams and campus partners are working to resource and scale these opportunities, increasing access.
What are common, simple shifts that could be made to existing experiences to make them applied learning experiences?
Many students are already engaged in quality, authentic learning experiences. The ALE Framework was developed to guarantee that all K-State students benefit from high-quality, universally accessible learning experiences. Commonly, student-led goal setting, individualized mentorship, and reflection are the areas that have the most growth potential. Faculty and staff should consult the ALE Course Checklist to determine what elements are needed to enhance their courses. The Course Designation page also offers resources to support faculty.
If a student is enrolled in an ALE course, but they’ve already completed an ALE course otherwise, are they still required to complete the ALE modules?
Yes, the benefits of experiential or applied education are greater when learners have multiple experiences. Any course number designated as an ALE would need to achieve the same learning outcomes for all students, regardless of whether they have previously completed an ALE. This is an HLC requirement for all courses.
In an experience that may already require elements of the framework, or assignments similar to those required in Canvas, are faculty required to use the ALE modules?
There are four required ALE components, connected to the ALE framework, and designed to meet measurable outcomes. These are listed in the ALE Course Checklist. For three of the four components, faculty have the option to use ready-made assignments in Canvas Commons or design their own assignments and connect them to Canvas Outcomes. The ALE Student Planning Form is the only mandatory ready-made assignment. For more information on these components, please refer to the Course Designation page.
What is the grading expectation for faculty within the ALE courses?
All ALE courses will be graded. Faculty have the agency to grade courses according to their own discretion and practice. Faculty are expected to utilize Canvas Outcomes and relevant rubric lines to show student achievement of ALE outcomes.
How will a minimum of 45 hours of engagement be achieved without taking away valuable instructional time? How are the engagement hours defined?
Engagement hours can be considered as authentic experiences tied to a student's goals or plan. Those goals can also be course goals. A resource that can serve as a litmus test for engagement or non-engagement is David Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle. Consider time spent in each of these stages as engaged:
How is faculty expertise valued throughout the ALE designation process?
Faculty expertise is paramount to any successful learning experience, Applied Learning or otherwise. Faculty feedback was appreciated and incorporated in the design of the course designation processes. The creation of Canvas Outcomes leaves space for faculty to utilize their own, expertly crafted assignments while still ensuring achievement of ALE principles. The ALE team possesses expertise in the realm of experiential learning and greatly values the content expertise of our faculty. We aim to foster a collaborative relationship that integrates both practices for the benefit of our students.
How will data collected by Canvas Outcomes be used?
Grader responses to the Canvas Outcome rubric lines are the only data seen by the ALE team, the Data Assessment, and the Institutional Research teams. This data will provide a broad understanding of students' proficiency in ALE practices, such as goal setting, reflection, and time commitment. This understanding will inform continued improvement processes. No personal student information or other course materials can be accessed without faculty permission.
The University Steering Committee for Applied Learning Experiences is assembling a Research and Assessment team to pose specific research questions, attain an IRB, and begin longitudinal and functional studies of the benefit of ALEs. The appropriate permissions will need to be granted for this data collection. We highly encourage faculty to participate in these studies and greatly appreciate the data they are already providing through Outcome scoring.
Many students are already engaged in quality, authentic learning experiences. The ALE Framework was developed to guarantee that all K-State students benefit from high-quality, universally accessible learning experiences. Commonly, student-led goal setting, individualized mentorship, and reflection are the areas that have the most growth potential. Faculty and staff should consult the ALE Course Checklist to determine what elements are needed to enhance their courses. The Course Designation page also offers resources to support faculty.
If a student is enrolled in an ALE course, but they’ve already completed an ALE course otherwise, are they still required to complete the ALE modules?
Yes, the benefits of experiential or applied education are greater when learners have multiple experiences. Any course number designated as an ALE would need to achieve the same learning outcomes for all students, regardless of whether they have previously completed an ALE. This is an HLC requirement for all courses.
In an experience that may already require elements of the framework, or assignments similar to those required in Canvas, are faculty required to use the ALE modules?
There are four required ALE components, connected to the ALE framework, and designed to meet measurable outcomes. These are listed in the ALE Course Checklist. For three of the four components, faculty have the option to use ready-made assignments in Canvas Commons or design their own assignments and connect them to Canvas Outcomes. The ALE Student Planning Form is the only mandatory ready-made assignment. For more information on these components, please refer to the Course Designation page.
What is the grading expectation for faculty within the ALE courses?
All ALE courses will be graded. Faculty have the agency to grade courses according to their own discretion and practice. Faculty are expected to utilize Canvas Outcomes and relevant rubric lines to show student achievement of ALE outcomes.
How will a minimum of 45 hours of engagement be achieved without taking away valuable instructional time? How are the engagement hours defined?
Engagement hours can be considered as authentic experiences tied to a student's goals or plan. Those goals can also be course goals. A resource that can serve as a litmus test for engagement or non-engagement is David Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle. Consider time spent in each of these stages as engaged:
- Concrete Experience: Engaging in an activity or having an experience.
- Reflective Observation: Observing and reflecting on the experience, allowing for observation and evaluation.
- Abstract Conceptualization: Synthesizing observations into abstract ideas, concepts, theories, and new understandings.
- Active Experimentation: Using the conceptualized knowledge to plan and act, leading to the restart of the cycle.
How is faculty expertise valued throughout the ALE designation process?
Faculty expertise is paramount to any successful learning experience, Applied Learning or otherwise. Faculty feedback was appreciated and incorporated in the design of the course designation processes. The creation of Canvas Outcomes leaves space for faculty to utilize their own, expertly crafted assignments while still ensuring achievement of ALE principles. The ALE team possesses expertise in the realm of experiential learning and greatly values the content expertise of our faculty. We aim to foster a collaborative relationship that integrates both practices for the benefit of our students.
How will data collected by Canvas Outcomes be used?
Grader responses to the Canvas Outcome rubric lines are the only data seen by the ALE team, the Data Assessment, and the Institutional Research teams. This data will provide a broad understanding of students' proficiency in ALE practices, such as goal setting, reflection, and time commitment. This understanding will inform continued improvement processes. No personal student information or other course materials can be accessed without faculty permission.
The University Steering Committee for Applied Learning Experiences is assembling a Research and Assessment team to pose specific research questions, attain an IRB, and begin longitudinal and functional studies of the benefit of ALEs. The appropriate permissions will need to be granted for this data collection. We highly encourage faculty to participate in these studies and greatly appreciate the data they are already providing through Outcome scoring.
Who will determine which courses will be designated as ALEs in the course catalog?
Ideally, faculty and department and college leadership will collaborate to determine which courses will be put forward for consideration. Faculty are encouraged to advocate for experiences they lead with their unit’s administrators. Ultimately, strategic decisions and course approval will be made by the colleges to determine which courses will be ALEs in perpetuity. This ensures that students have access to ALEs despite faculty turnover, shifts in load, and other unpredictable scenarios. Once submitted the ALE Course Team designated in the ARN will review and approve courses.
What level of courses are anticipated to count as ALEs? 500+ or 100 and beyond?
What action needs to be taken now by faculty?
The Course Designation process is now live and seeking applications. Faculty should be in communication with their departments to understand if their courses will be designated and how ALE components are included. Next, faculty should begin preparing answers to the relevant Curriculog form, ensuring it's prepared for submission by the professional who oversees those processes in their unit. A full process explanation and resources are available on the Course Designation webpage.
Will courses have some sort of visual recognition so that students know that they are taking ALEs?
Yes. Courses will be designated in the Course Catalog and in KSIS, similarly to the K-State Core classes. They will have an ALE marking as well as a sub-category of Community-Engaged Learning, Creative, Global, Internship, Leadership, and Research. A full list of designated courses will be available on a webpage, similar to the K-State Core course lists.
Ideally, faculty and department and college leadership will collaborate to determine which courses will be put forward for consideration. Faculty are encouraged to advocate for experiences they lead with their unit’s administrators. Ultimately, strategic decisions and course approval will be made by the colleges to determine which courses will be ALEs in perpetuity. This ensures that students have access to ALEs despite faculty turnover, shifts in load, and other unpredictable scenarios. Once submitted the ALE Course Team designated in the ARN will review and approve courses.
What level of courses are anticipated to count as ALEs? 500+ or 100 and beyond?
What action needs to be taken now by faculty?
The Course Designation process is now live and seeking applications. Faculty should be in communication with their departments to understand if their courses will be designated and how ALE components are included. Next, faculty should begin preparing answers to the relevant Curriculog form, ensuring it's prepared for submission by the professional who oversees those processes in their unit. A full process explanation and resources are available on the Course Designation webpage.
Will courses have some sort of visual recognition so that students know that they are taking ALEs?
Yes. Courses will be designated in the Course Catalog and in KSIS, similarly to the K-State Core classes. They will have an ALE marking as well as a sub-category of Community-Engaged Learning, Creative, Global, Internship, Leadership, and Research. A full list of designated courses will be available on a webpage, similar to the K-State Core course lists.
I want to understand the needs, plan moving forward, and how support or micro-credential groups/courses may support this effort.
We are working with Market Research to develop the micro-credentials. The idea is to develop the course with KSU faculty and then offer it to outside entities who are interested. This could be a revenue stream to support students in their ALEs.
When will the Canvas documents be ready for faculty to use?
Ready-to-use Canvas Commons documents and Canvas Outcomes are now available. The content will remain generally the same, but improvements will be made each semester. A schedule of updates will be available on this website.
How will ALE classes/experiences take into account and support non-traditional, adult, and online students?
We are looking into virtual internships as an option for these students. In addition, many of these students may already be working in their field and can easily apply these experiences to their ALE. It might also be the case that they can get credit for these experiences they are already engaged with, thus reducing the total number of credits they need from more traditional methods.
We are working with Market Research to develop the micro-credentials. The idea is to develop the course with KSU faculty and then offer it to outside entities who are interested. This could be a revenue stream to support students in their ALEs.
When will the Canvas documents be ready for faculty to use?
Ready-to-use Canvas Commons documents and Canvas Outcomes are now available. The content will remain generally the same, but improvements will be made each semester. A schedule of updates will be available on this website.
How will ALE classes/experiences take into account and support non-traditional, adult, and online students?
We are looking into virtual internships as an option for these students. In addition, many of these students may already be working in their field and can easily apply these experiences to their ALE. It might also be the case that they can get credit for these experiences they are already engaged with, thus reducing the total number of credits they need from more traditional methods.
How will students get credit for completing an experience?
Courses designated as an applied learning experience (ALE) will be acknowledged in typical curricular processes.
Can students complete more than one experience?
Yes. K-State has a strong tradition of connecting students to applied learning experiences, and many already participate in one or more experiences. We hope that through intentional development of new experiences and proactive efforts to address barriers, students will have increased access.
How will this initiative impact students financially?
We have zero credit options available for students to allow for completion without financial hardship. We intend to work with all departments ot offer courses within the major tracks to ensure access. It is our intention to make sure that students complete an ALE without any additional financial burden.
What does “every degree-seeking student” mean?
As the phrase implies, any student who seeks a degree from Kansas State University will have the opportunity to engage in an applied learning experience. This includes those enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Manhattan, Salina, Olathe, and online. Learners from these locations have also been part of this initiative from the beginning and are represented on our USCALE and Ambassador teams.
Courses designated as an applied learning experience (ALE) will be acknowledged in typical curricular processes.
Can students complete more than one experience?
Yes. K-State has a strong tradition of connecting students to applied learning experiences, and many already participate in one or more experiences. We hope that through intentional development of new experiences and proactive efforts to address barriers, students will have increased access.
How will this initiative impact students financially?
We have zero credit options available for students to allow for completion without financial hardship. We intend to work with all departments ot offer courses within the major tracks to ensure access. It is our intention to make sure that students complete an ALE without any additional financial burden.
What does “every degree-seeking student” mean?
As the phrase implies, any student who seeks a degree from Kansas State University will have the opportunity to engage in an applied learning experience. This includes those enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Manhattan, Salina, Olathe, and online. Learners from these locations have also been part of this initiative from the beginning and are represented on our USCALE and Ambassador teams.
In internships, sometimes students select and pay for the number of credits they’ll complete, but are unable to complete all the credits. Can there be a committee that helps with the refund process?
We will work with the registrar and other involved parties to address this. If there is already a refund process in place, we will work to use that mechanism.
There is a discrepancy in hours for summer internships on the website.
Hours for ALE are outlined in the ALE Framework. This requirement supercedes any modified hours during a term.My course includes experiences that may count as Applied Learning. How do I get my course to count?
Courses need to go through the Course Designation process defined in the Approval, Routing, and Notification manual. This is similar to the General Education/ K-State Core process. This process begins by completing the relevant form within Curriculog, which will be reviewed by multiple shared governance committees. Please visit the Course Designation page for a full explanation and resources.
Many experiences, including research, internships, and community-engaged learning, collaborate with outside partners. Will these experiences be counted?
Authentic and reciprocal partnerships with community, industry, and intellectual partners are highly encouraged to be included in Applied Learning Experiences. If a course meets the ALE Framework and is designated as an ALE Course in the catalog through the course designation process, then it will be counted.
In the instance where a non-credit, non-degree-seeking student takes a microcredential that counts as an ALE and then decides to enroll at K-State later, would their previous experience provide ALE credit?
Yes, if the microcredential was a designated ALE.
Will courses that have a lab component count as Applied Learning Experiences?
Yes, if they meet the ALE Framework, are an authentic experience, and have been designated as an ALE course in the course catalog, then it will count.
Do students have to complete their ALE within an experience unique to their major or within a general education course?
ALEs may be completed inside or outside of a student's area of study. They are not solely gained within majors or gen-ed.
Must the 45 hours of engagement occur within the period of enrollment for an ALE course? For example, a student may complete an internship over the summer but be enrolled in an internship course the following Fall?
Since the ALE Framework requires intentional goal setting, mentorship, and formative reflection, the 45 hours of engagement would need to occur within a course timeframe.
How will prior student experiences be recognized? For instance, an internship at a previous institution for a transfer student, military experience, or past work experience.
Experiences that students bring with them are vital to the vibrancy of our learning communities. We also recognize the accessibility importance of credit for prior learning. The ALE Framework has specific requirements that are not often met in experiences outside of K-State. Exception language has been included in the University Handbook regarding undergraduate degree requirements. Ideally, multiple courses will be available to learners at multiple intervals within their K-State career, making ALEs a part of our culture. Courses with transfer equivalencies will be counted as ALEs if the KSU course is designated as an ALE.
I'm concerned that my current course or activity won't count as an Applied Learning Experience for students.
We want to assure you that we absolutely anticipate many existing courses and activities will meet the criteria for an Applied Learning Experience (ALE) course. Your work is highly valued, and the last thing we want to do is devalue a course that has been so effective for students.
The purpose of the Course ID process is to ensure that all courses designated as ALEs meet a consistent, university-wide standard based on a new framework. This consistency is crucial for several reasons:
Clarity for Students: helps students easily identify and choose ALE courses, regardless of the department.
Quality Assurance: It allows us to ensure every student has a high-quality, high-impact learning experience that aligns with our institutional goals.
Equity: It ensures that all students, regardless of their major, have equitable access to diverse and well-supported applied learning experiences.
We are committed to helping you through this process and are confident that many of your courses will qualify. The Course Designation webpage offers resources to support your integration of ALE components. The ALE team is excited to meet with faculty to think creatively about implementing ALE in your course.
Courses need to go through the Course Designation process defined in the Approval, Routing, and Notification manual. This is similar to the General Education/ K-State Core process. This process begins by completing the relevant form within Curriculog, which will be reviewed by multiple shared governance committees. Please visit the Course Designation page for a full explanation and resources.
Many experiences, including research, internships, and community-engaged learning, collaborate with outside partners. Will these experiences be counted?
Authentic and reciprocal partnerships with community, industry, and intellectual partners are highly encouraged to be included in Applied Learning Experiences. If a course meets the ALE Framework and is designated as an ALE Course in the catalog through the course designation process, then it will be counted.
In the instance where a non-credit, non-degree-seeking student takes a microcredential that counts as an ALE and then decides to enroll at K-State later, would their previous experience provide ALE credit?
Yes, if the microcredential was a designated ALE.
Will courses that have a lab component count as Applied Learning Experiences?
Yes, if they meet the ALE Framework, are an authentic experience, and have been designated as an ALE course in the course catalog, then it will count.
Do students have to complete their ALE within an experience unique to their major or within a general education course?
ALEs may be completed inside or outside of a student's area of study. They are not solely gained within majors or gen-ed.
Must the 45 hours of engagement occur within the period of enrollment for an ALE course? For example, a student may complete an internship over the summer but be enrolled in an internship course the following Fall?
Since the ALE Framework requires intentional goal setting, mentorship, and formative reflection, the 45 hours of engagement would need to occur within a course timeframe.
How will prior student experiences be recognized? For instance, an internship at a previous institution for a transfer student, military experience, or past work experience.
Experiences that students bring with them are vital to the vibrancy of our learning communities. We also recognize the accessibility importance of credit for prior learning. The ALE Framework has specific requirements that are not often met in experiences outside of K-State. Exception language has been included in the University Handbook regarding undergraduate degree requirements. Ideally, multiple courses will be available to learners at multiple intervals within their K-State career, making ALEs a part of our culture. Courses with transfer equivalencies will be counted as ALEs if the KSU course is designated as an ALE.
I'm concerned that my current course or activity won't count as an Applied Learning Experience for students.
We want to assure you that we absolutely anticipate many existing courses and activities will meet the criteria for an Applied Learning Experience (ALE) course. Your work is highly valued, and the last thing we want to do is devalue a course that has been so effective for students.
The purpose of the Course ID process is to ensure that all courses designated as ALEs meet a consistent, university-wide standard based on a new framework. This consistency is crucial for several reasons:
Clarity for Students: helps students easily identify and choose ALE courses, regardless of the department.
Quality Assurance: It allows us to ensure every student has a high-quality, high-impact learning experience that aligns with our institutional goals.
Equity: It ensures that all students, regardless of their major, have equitable access to diverse and well-supported applied learning experiences.
We are committed to helping you through this process and are confident that many of your courses will qualify. The Course Designation webpage offers resources to support your integration of ALE components. The ALE team is excited to meet with faculty to think creatively about implementing ALE in your course.
Applied Learning Experiences
appliedlearning@k-state.edu
103 Leadership Studies Building
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6087