Program Overview

The La Verne Experience

The La Verne Experience (LVE) is the University of La Verne's signature academic initiative, driven by the commitment to educate the whole student. This program aims to produce individuals who will not only succeed academically but also become productive community members and thoughtful citizens.

Program Overview

The La Verne Experience provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in practical settings, adding depth to their experience and development. This program is available to students on all campuses and in all programs, allowing them to participate in bringing theory to life.

FLEX

The First-Year La Verne Experience (FLEX) introduces The La Verne Experience to traditional undergraduate students. FLEX is a first-year signature program designed for first-year, first-semester students.

SoLVE

The Sophomore La Verne Experience (SoLVE) carries The La Verne Experience into the sophomore year with a series of courses that increase student success in and out of the classroom. SoLVE helps students make long-term plans, even projecting as far as 20 years into the future.

Integrative Learning and Reflection

The La Verne Experience emphasizes integrative learning and reflection, tying together curricular and non-curricular lessons for students in a holistic manner. This approach provides students with valuable perspectives on how to view and resolve challenges in different ways, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Honors Program

The Honors Program offers a challenging intellectual experience that complements any major at the University. Open to students with proven academic success in high school, the rigorous curriculum is taught by passionate and knowledgeable professors and allows students to complete most general education requirements.

LVE 400

The La Verne Experience for Juniors and Seniors (LVE 400) is a capstone course that provides students with the opportunity to apply the multi-faceted knowledge and skills they have gained. Students focus on an interdisciplinary project to understand the interconnection between different areas of study and finalize their personal e-portfolios.

LVE 400 Capstone Course

The LVE 400 Capstone Course is a 1-unit General Education Capstone course that focuses on interdisciplinary topics and career-ready skills, including written communication, critical thinking, and intercultural competence. Students from various majors and backgrounds research and share their knowledge, skills, and interests developed up to this point.

Course Examples

• Difference as Social Construct: Students examine how difference is socially constructed and perpetuated through language and social institutions.
• Nature Deficit-Disorder: This course blends research from education, environmental education, and child and human development to address societal issues related to Nature-Deficit Disorder.
• Class, Race, and Gender: Students analyze cultural constructs such as gender, race, and class and how these phenomena interact to shape identities and social realities.
• Language & Meaning Making: This class focuses on the ways language imposes itself in every sphere of human activity and disciplines.

e-Portfolios

The e-portfolio is a digital electronic showcase of one's work over the four years at the University of La Verne. Developed throughout the four-year La Verne Experience, the e-portfolio helps students control their own digital presence and builds materials that can be effective in resumes, future job interviews, and other professional opportunities.

Co-curricular Activities

The La Verne Experience integrates into all areas of students' lives, including co-curricular activities that take place outside of regularly scheduled classroom-taught courses. These activities include participating in intercollegiate sports, tutoring, and giving tax assistance to those in need.