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Reflection in Action Experiences

Below are approved co-curricular experiences that satisfy the Saint Louis University Undergraduate Core Reflection in Action requirement. Please note that each experience has a separate registration process conducted by the sponsoring SLU department — students do not sign up for these experiences using the traditional course catalog method.  

Students participating in these experiences are auto-enrolled in a 0-credit section of CORE 4500 on Canvas. They must complete a final reflection (administered to each student by the University Undergraduate Core) to receive credit toward their graduation requirements.

Departments may submit their programs for approval as Reflection in Action experiences.

Submit a Program for Approval

Find Reflection in Action at SLU-Madrid

Community Service Opportunities 

Community Service Federal Work-Study Program

Through the Saint Louis University Community Service Federal Work-Study Program, students can earn their financial aid award of FWS by working at a local nonprofit agency. This is an alternative to working in more traditional on-campus jobs. Students can gain valuable work and career-preparation experience while making a difference in the lives of those the site serves in the St. Louis community.  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Program (Open Only to Recipients of the MLK Scholarship)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Program is a competitive award granted to undergraduate students committed to social justice, academic success, service, leadership and cultural awareness. Each of these characteristics equips our scholarship recipients to develop their potential as agents of positive social change. The Cross Cultural Center for Global Citizenship staff supports and advises students in the program.  

Micah Program Weekly Service (Open Only to Micah Program Students)

Micah students and Micah companions commit to 30 hours of service per semester at the same site to build relationships with those at the site and gain in-depth knowledge about the sociopolitical challenges underlying the need for service at their site and the systems affecting those they accompany in service.  

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Career and Experiential Learning

This program allows students to utilize their internship, research assistantship, or other experiential learning opportunity to fulfill the RIA requirement. Students will submit their internship information via Handshake and indicate that they wish the experience to count for the RIA requirement. Career Services will then assist with adding the student to CORE 4500.

Policy Pods (also counts for Cura Personalis 2 / CORE 2500)

Policy Pods are groups of about seven students who meet once a week to prepare for legislative advocacy meetings with elected officials. Students look at bills and research the impacts of the bills, practice advocacy pitches, and meet with district legislators on topics such as immigration, criminal justice, health equity, education equity or environmental issues.

Immersion/Service Trip Opportunities 

Business Immersion Experiences (Open Only to St. Louis campus Business Majors)

Belize Business Immersion

The Belize Business Immersion allows undergraduate Chaifetz School of Business students to learn about social entrepreneurship and economic development from Belizean business owners. Students will engage with entrepreneurs of small businesses and local farmers to understand the process of sourcing raw materials in the supply chain. Participants will also explore the cultural history of the Belizean Maya people, gaining an understanding of ancestral land ownership and current social issues impacting the Maya people and businesses in the Punta Gorda region. Special attention will be given to cacao and turmeric industries in Belize.

Conscious Consumerism Immersion in North Carolina

The Conscious Consumerism Immersion Experience in western North Carolina examines the historical center of U.S. textile manufacturing. The Industrial Commons and Carolina Textile District are revitalizing the textile industry to build the U.S. hub for textile circularity. Manufacturing has been at the heart of these communities and their economies for centuries, so, for them, it’s personal. As a result, the Carolina Textile District invites college students and others into the unique ecosystem of thriving U.S. factories to learn about workers' lives, follow the circular products they are making, be inspired to become conscious consumers and take back what they have learned to their communities.

Social Action Trips

Social Action Trips are intensive justice-based experiential learning and advocacy opportunities. They allow us to build global partnerships with communities navigating the same inequities we face in St. Louis. Following the trip, students return to apply the knowledge they gain at home. Teams of 10-12 students train weekly to prepare for the trip over spring break. Meetings include formation and advocacy planning. Trip locations include the U.S.-Mexico Border in Kino (Immigration) and New Orleans (LGBTQ+). Cost: $200 per person, and includes all lodging, meals, transportation and activities.

Spring Break Immersion Program

Campus Ministry's Spring Break Immersion Program leads student participants through the process of diving into a particular social justice issue (like incarceration, immigration, public health issues, etc.) through the lens of the program pillars (Community, Spirituality, Social Justice and Solidarity) and the context of a particular community in the United States. The program requires students to participate in weekly formation meetings leading up to and following the trip, a week-long immersion experience over Spring Break, and three program-wide events: the Program Kickoff, Sending Forth Prayer Service, and Post-trip Day of Reflection. Students gain critical reflection, social analysis, community-building and leadership skills.

Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice

Campus Ministry's Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice (IFTJ) is intended for students who desire to grow in understanding and application of how social advocacy informs faith and how faith informs social advocacy and caring for the least of these within society. This program endeavors to equip students with some experiences and resources to show them that there is no artificial separation of faith and social justice. They necessarily inform the other and are by themselves incomplete. The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice is the largest Catholic social advocacy conference in the United States. Formation for student delegates takes place annually in the fall semester to prepare for traveling to the Teach-In itself, which takes place in mid-November in Washington, D.C.

Sustainability Study Abroad (also counts for Cura Personalis 2 / CORE 2500)

Immersive study abroad trip that combines academic learning with real-world experiences in Germany and Switzerland, focusing on sustainable practices and innovations. This 10-day program integrates site visits, lectures, stimulating discussions, and hands-on activities, offering students a comprehensive understanding of sustainability from a global perspective. The course will explore sustainable technologies, eco-friendly urban development, and the role of environmental stewardship in different cultural contexts. This course offers a unique opportunity to engage with sustainability on a global scale while fostering personal and academic growth through an enriching travel experience.

SLU-Madrid Opportunities 

Community ESL Program

The Community ESL Program provides free weekly English language classes to local community members. Sessions take place weekly over a semester.  

School Outreach Program

Through the School Outreach Program, students visit a state-sponsored school in a socio-economically challenged neighborhood of Puertollano, a town in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain. Participants provide activities and workshops in English to promote the school's image and encourage children to practice and continue to study English.

Volunteering While Abroad

While volunteering during their stay abroad, students will work with members of the community of Madrid to assist individuals facing detrimental circumstances and who are at risk of social exclusion. Students will have a unique opportunity to create a dialogue with individuals living in various states from underdeveloped socio-economic conditions, cognitive and physical disabilities, and victims of gender violence to communities of individuals seeking to improve their educational skills. Volunteering with organizations within the city of Madrid can allow students to participate in a language exchange, develop cultural sensitivity and work alongside groups whose life experiences/situations vastly differ from their own.

Volunteering with Fundación Sanders

Through Volunteering with Fundación Sanders, students regularly visit one of several Fundación Sanders centers in Madrid. These centers provide “safe spaces” where school children from underprivileged or complicated family situations can study, socialize and improve their academic and language skills. Many of the children are immigrants and may speak languages other than Spanish or English. Volunteers assist the children with their English-language and computer skills, boost their self-confidence, and motivate them. The interaction generally leads to a candid cultural exchange.