UNH President Dr. Steven H. Kaplan was awarded the National Society for Experiential Education’s highest award in October at the society’s

fortieth annual conference in Dallas, Texas.

The William M. Burke Award for Experiential Education was presented to Kaplan on Oct. 21 because of the focus on experiential learning he has cultivated at UNH.

President of the NSEE James Walters said in a press release, “Dr. Kaplan was nominated for this award because of his vision and goal to enhance the academic experience of UNH students by creating and updating a strategic plan that supports a university-wide infrastructure for developing, monitoring, and evaluating experiential learning opportunities.”

The NSEE is a nonprofit association of leading educators, business professionals, and community leaders established in 1971 to “foster the effective use of experience as an integral part of education, in order to empower learners and promote the common good,” according to its website.

Kaplan was nominated for the award by UNH Associate Vice President for Retention L. Christie Boronico and UNH Associate Provost for International and Experiential Learning Jeremy Geller.

Kaplan became president of UNH in 2004. Shortly thereafter, the university became a strategic partner with the NSEE.

The university requires each undergraduate student to undergo at least one “experiential education opportunity” to complete his or her baccalaureate degree. They may choose from one of four categories: academic service-learning, study abroad, an internship, or faculty-mentored research.

UNH also offers a certificate program in experiential learning for college faculty and staff in the Northeast region through its Center for Experiential Education, which is part of the NSEE’s Experiential Education Academy. More than 40 people affiliated with the university have graduated from the program since 2007.

In addition, UNH has an honors society for experiential education that both students and faculty can join. The William M. Burke Award for Experiential Education was created to memorialize the founder and president of The Washington Center, an organization created in 1975 and located in Washington, D.C. that seeks to create “transformational experiences for students that foster academic and professional achievement, leadership, and civic engagement,” according to its website.