key·stone ˈ kēˌstōn / noun noun: keystone ; plural noun: keystones

3. key·stone ˈkēˌstōn/ noun noun: keystone; plural noun: keystones a central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the whole together. · the central principle or part of a policy, system, etc., on which all else depends. "cooperation remains the keystone of the government's security policy"

4. Keystone Mission The Keystone Experience is an opportunity for students to better understand and put into practice the Aspirations for Student Learning. The Division of Student Affairs and campus partners will provide learner-centered experiences that engage students in an opportunity to learn, participate, and model the five aspirations.

5. Goals of the Keystone Experience • Introduce students to the Aspirations for Student Learning and have them engage in experiences that meet the introductory level of each aspiration (what is each aspiration and why is it important?). • Provide a clear and intentionally sequenced path for students to engage in numerous and varied experiences that allow them to learn, practice, and model the Aspirations for Student Learning. • Provide the resources for students to track and reflect on their experiences through a co-curricular transcript. • Assist students in making meaning of their VT experience through community interactions (peers/mentors/faculty/staff), with opportunities for students to reflect on their experiences with faculty, staff, and peers. • Provide students with the opportunity to engage in activities that prepare them for in-depth reflection so that the quality of their learning is enriched and the relationships that are created or strengthened can flourish. • Ensure that all of the division’s programs, events, and services link to our core values so that we connect with as many students as possible with the goal to provide every student an opportunity to engage in dynamic learning environments.

7. Keystone Experience The Keystone Experience is the co-curricular experience created by the Division of Student Affairs for students at Virginia Tech. The Division of Student Affairs provides co-curricular experiences for students that are focused on the Aspirations for Student Learning. The Keystone Experience operationalizes the five Aspirations for Student Learning through the Learning Outcome frameworks. Departments offer experiences in the form of programs, events and services. Students are encouraged to create their own Keystone Experience, one that is self-directed and self-authored.

8. Keystone Experience You’ll discover dozens of passions that will build on one another to form your Virginia Tech career, things that excite you and things you aspire to be. But, what will become the foundation to all of that? If you look around Virginia Tech, you'll start to notice that there are a lot of arches on campus. At the center of many of these are keystones: the apex of the curve the locking piece, the heart of the arch. Your Keystone Experience is what will hold your passions together. It's up to you to create it through everything you engage in.

9. GobblerConnect GobblerConnect is Virginia Tech’s online student involvement and organization registrationsystem. As a new student, you can use GobblerConnect to explore the details of all these student organizations and groups. The more time you put into building your profile—selecting your likes from a list of available options—the more helpful GobblerConnect will be in matching your interests to compatible student groups. And, if you don’t find the perfect group for you, there is the option to create your own group using GobblerConnect. • Home to the Keystone Happenings • Home to the Involvement Transcript

10. Keystone Happenings • The programs, events, and services – the experience that make up the Keystone Experience will be called “happenings”. Internally, DSA may most often refer to these as “experiences” but students will see these programs, events, and services most often in GobblerConnect and these will be pushed to the APP that students will download on their mobile devices. In promoting these experiences, we will call them Keystone Happenings. • Students participate (tracked by self-report, swipe-in, or by roster uploaded by staff) and reflect on these experiences, and track their progress using the Co-Curricular Transcript in GobblerConnect.

11. Involvement Transcript Co-Curricular Transcript – students will know this as their Involvement Transcript The CCT is a record of student involvement and engagement. The CCT can be used in a variety of ways from a personal record for the student or to share with an employer. The CCT can be printed directly from GobblerConnect by going to the My Involvement tab at the top. The transcript will record experiences for students that are listed in GobblerConnect or a student can enter an experience.

12. Keystone APP The Keystone Experience APP will be introduced as students move-on/return to campus. For many students, first exposure to the APP and the Keystone Experience may be at GobblerFest. The APP will introduce students to the Aspirations for Student Learning. The APP provides a way for students to learn about each aspiration, find out about happenings that are entered in GobblerConnect, provides a robust campus map, and opportunities to earn badges/awards by attending Keystone Happenings. The APP will also introduce students to GobblerConnect. The APP will also highlight Student Government Association events and programs.

13. Keystone Field Guide and HRL First-year students need guidance in how to engage and begin to create their own Keystone Experience. Resident Advisors (RAs) and HRL staff will serve in this role. The Field Guide is a printed book that is provided to all students living on-campus. RAs will use the Field Guide as a tool to engage in one-on-one conversations and check-ins with residents. Students will use the Field Guide as a place to record reflections, write down their Strengths, keep track of important experiences, respond to prompts to engage with community members, etc. RAs may also use the Field Guide in community meetings.