Out & Engaged Experience

The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity offers students an opportunity to learn more about various aspects of the LGBTQ+ community through an engaged immersion experience program.

Trips expose students to the history of the LGBTQ+ community, promote civic engagement, as well as  allow for and encourage personal growth. Trips also allow for interaction with Penn State regional Alumni. 

The following outlines our learning outcomes for our students involved in this engaged immersion experience:

Historical & Socio-cultural Learning

• Enhance academic learning and civic education;

• Develop and improve critical thinking and reflection skills;

• Approach history with an attitude of respect and equality;

• Learn that history can mean being present with people

Community Engagement

• Become aware of and ask critical questions about current local, national and global concerns;

• Understand the dynamic nature of community life and that every member’s contribution is valuable and necessary;

• Demonstrate an openness to transformation through experiences with other communities;

• Be in solidarity with people who are materially poor or marginalized

Diversity

• Increase awareness of societies, cultures, diverse worldviews, and perspectives;

• Recognize the assets (strength, wisdom, and aspirations) of other communities;

• Recognize the inherent value and dignity of each person;

• Develop relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and recognize the way in which these relationships enrich our lives;

• Acknowledge and appreciate the differences between other communities and one’s own

Justice and Social Change

• Expand awareness and knowledge of local, national and global social justice issues;

• Learn about privilege (cultural, racial, gender, class, sexuality etc.);

• Analyze one’s position in terms of privilege, power and oppression;

• Recognize injustice and the structures that cause and maintain oppression (e.g. racism, classism, sexism, etc.);

• Understand how systemic oppression negatively effects individual lives;

• Expand knowledge of existing networks and groups working for social change;

• Identify unjust language and use more inclusive and just language

Personal Growth/Emotional Development

• Develop knowledge of self through habits of critical personal reflection;

• Understand how justice activities can help to discover one’s meaning and purpose in life;

• Learn to collaborate effectively with fellow students, faculty and staff, and community members;

• Improve interpersonal and social skills

Professionalism (specific to trip co-leaders)

• Be a positive role model in terms of behavior, attitude and language;

• Improve one’s organizational skills of time management and planning;

• Develop leadership skills (communication, collaboration, affirmation, motivation, facilitation, delegation, evaluation, supervision, goal setting, and problem solving).