GEM/OCC (Greensburg Experience More / Outside the Classroom Curriculum)

Overview 

The Greensburg Experience More/Outside the Classroom Curriculum  (GEM/OCC) and Honors GEM/OCC programs provides students with a co-curricular experience that complements and enhances their classroom learning. Participants engage in structured professional and personal skill development across six core competencies with additional competencies for Honors GEM/OCC: 

• Leadership Development
• Career Preparation
• Communication & the Arts  
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Global Engagement
• Service & Civic Engagement
• Well-Being

Participants in the Honors College GEM/OCC are also required to complete the following additional competencies: 

• Honors Pride
• Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work

and splitting of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Global Engagement into

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,
• Global and Cultural Engagement

Program Structure

Each of these competencies includes a variety of experience to get the required 150 points. Experiences are worth 10, 20, and 50 points respectively, and may count for more than one competencies. The skills students develop are broadly applicable to work and academic situations. These skills are also marketable to future employers.  Each competencies is built around the following learning outcomes:

• Career Development
  • Develop career awareness and professional skills
  • Receive knowledge of specific career preparation strategies to be successful in post graduate endeavors
• Communication & the Arts
  • Become exposed to a variety of experiences to broaden horizons and definitions of art
  • Become an active participant in media, art, and programming
  • Learn how to be a more effective communicator in a variety of settings
• Diversity, Equity, Including & Global Engagement
  • Develop a deeper understanding of themselves
  • Learn how cultural perspective affects world view
  • Increase an appreciation of the value of diversity and culture
• Leadership Development
  • Be exposed to a variety of leadership skills, situations, and styles
  • Learn how to be active leaders
  • Comprehend how to lead as well as follow
• Service & Civic Engagement
  • · Gain an appreciation and understanding of serving others in the community
  • · Realize a broader sense of pride for one’s community
  • · Begin a lifelong commitment to service and ethics
• Well-Being
  • Develop skills for lifelong well-being, including physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being.
  • Attend campus events to develop healthy habits
  • Learn how to utilize the resources available to become more well rounded

Honors Only

• Honors Pride
  • Increased understanding of the spirit and purpose of the Frederick at Pitt-Greensburg Honors Community
  • Increased engagement with Honors specific opportunities
• Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work
  • Understanding of foundational concepts of scholarly work
  • effective communication techniques across disciplines
  • Contribute to a field of study through the exploration of new and existing knowledge

GEM/OCC builds on the skills and knowledge gained within the academic curriculum. The program provides overall transferable skill development in the following key areas:

• working with others in teams
• oral communication
• critical thinking
• ethical judgment and decision making
• applying knowledge and skills to real world problems
• socio-cultural awareness.

Getting It Done

All points must be earned while a current student at Pitt-Greensburg.  At this time, the GEM/OCC is not intended for transfer to another institution, but the Honors GEM/OCC will transfer the Frederick Honors College at the Oakland campus. Honors GEM/OCC completion is required for Honor's Distinction and degrees. Credit from GEM/OCC will also transfer to Honors GEM/OCC and vice versa. 

Participants will track their progress using Suitable. Staff are available for consultation throughout a student’s journey. Students who successfully complete the program will receive recognition at Pitt Greensburg’s annual Honors Convocation and graduation ceremony.

Helpful Links

Suitable

For more information, please contact the Office of Student Life and Success:
219 Chambers Hall
724-836-7869
Business hours: 8:30am-5pm