Friar Leadership and Immersion Program (FLIP)
A central tenet of Providence College is that one’s undergraduate years are a time to learn and explore. At the School of Business, we have incorporated this philosophy into our Friar Leadership and Immersion Program (FLIP). FLIP provides opportunities for students to develop business skills and competencies through various means of professional and career exploration. In addition, the Providence College School of Business (PCSB) partners with the Chirico Career Center to offer experiential learning activities throughout the year that are part of FLIP.
Students are introduced to FLIP during their freshman year through the First Year Experience program, either in their advising workshops or their First-Year Seminar class. We are so committed to starting this exploration early in one’s college career that freshman participation in FLIP is a requirement for advancing in the School of Business. What comes from this kind of exploration? Discovery. Through FLIP and the Friar Four Career Core (F4CC), both of which are part of FIT (Friar Involvement Tracker), students discover early on the resources Providence College has to offer. They explore various career options, the steps needed to pursue them, and acquire both the technical and soft skills to get there.
Ultimately, FLIP enhances the student experience by engaging students in experiential learning activities; guiding them into business careers; helping them network with alumni and business professionals; and preparing them for their chosen field by developing business skills and competencies.
Student Requirements for the Friar Leadership & Immersion Program
First-year business students and newly declared business majors are required to meet several requirements to attain the Business Exploration Badge and Cultural Agility Badge by the end of their first year. Since most new students are still exploring careers, majors, or considering study abroad, there are numerous activities available making the minimum requirements easily achievable.
First Year Requirements
Business Exploration Badge Requirements
- 250 FLIP Points
- Complete two career pathway exploration activities
- Complete Excel Certification
Cultural Agility Badge Requirments
- Attend:
- Working Together Across Differences Workshop
- Intentional Acts of Inclusion Workshop
- One additional cultural agility workshop
FLIP creates opportunities for students to engage within the School of Business and will expose students to opportunities that will help shape their experience in the School of Business. It is strongly recommends all class years participate in FLIP.
How to Earn FLIP Points
FLIP points are earned by attending on-campus functions and participating in activities ranging from career exposure to career readiness. Activities eligible for the Friar Leadership & Immersion Program (FLIP) are offered by the School of Business, business clubs, the Chirico Career Center, and others. Examples of activities that earn FLIP points include attending:
- the PCSB Involvement Fair
- Career EXPO
- the PCSB Dean’s Symposium
- the Study Abroad Fair
- Friar Four Career Core workshops
- PCSB student organization events
New experiential learning opportunities that are dynamic and professionally-focused are constantly being created and will be added to the FLIP program as they are developed.
Each FLIP-eligible, experiential-learning activity is coded with a specific level that provides a certain number of points. There are very few activities that are coded at Level 5 (Proficiency), while there are many speakers and fairs coded at Level 1 (Exploration):
Level 1: Exploration– 10 points
Level 2: Interaction – 20 points
Level 3: Participation – 50 points
Level 4: Expertise – 75 points
Level 5: Proficiency– 150 points
The chart below provides some examples to use as a guide.
FLIP Sample Activities
| Sample Activity | Level | Competency | FLIP Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCSB Involvement Fair | 1 | Career & Professional Development | 10 |
| PC Study Abroad Fair | 1 | Career & Professional Development | 10 |
| PCSB Speaker | 1 | Global & Cultural Awareness | 20 |
| Friar Four Career Core Workshop | 1 | Career & Professional Development | 10 |
| PC Fall or Spring Career EXPO | 1 | Career & Professional Development | 10 |
| First Year Advising Workshops | 1 | Career & Professional Development | 10 |
| Friar Sales Showcase | 2 | Networking & Relationship Management | 20 |
| Microsoft Excel Certification | 2 | Technology | 20 |
| Microsoft Excel Certification Workshops | 3 | Technology | 50 |
| RI Conference on Values-Based Leadership | 3 | Networking & Relationship Management | 50 |
| Internship (Domestic) | 3 | Career & Professional Development | 50 |
| International Internship | 4 | Global & Cultural Awareness | 75 |
| International Internship in a Foreign Language | 5 | Global & Cultural Awareness | 150 |
To be eligible for FLIP, activities must develop one of the following critical competencies. In most cases, each activity will only be coded as one primary area of competency, although there may be exposure to other secondary competencies.
- Career and Professional Development
- Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Cultural Agility
- Ethical Decision-Making
- Global Awareness
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Technology
Friar Involvement Tracker
Student involvement in FLIP, the Friar Four Career Core (F4CC), and other PC competency-based milestones and badges is tracked in an online platform within the Suitable application. This platform helps students visualize their pathways, measure their progress, share information with potential employers, and even compare their pathways with other PC students.
Students accumulate points by attending and/or participating in experiential learning activities, which are promoted through the application and announced in PCSB and Chirico Career Center newsletters. Point levels are determined by the depth of involvement and the type of competency associated with the activity
This platform also provides a way for students to demonstrate their progress in completing milestones and badges to recruiters and companies. Companies are most interested in recruiting students who demonstrate professional development, leadership skills, and campus engagement. A student’s online dashboard shows one’s progress through career exploration, acquired business skills, and campus involvement.
How to Sign Up for the Suitable App
- Download the Suitable app to your phone from your regular app store
- Use your @friars.providence.edu email to register
- Login through the Providence College portal within the app
- Allow camera access to the app
- At eligible events, look for and scan QR codes, which certify your participation and/or attendance
- Once the application notes that a student attended and/or participated in an event, it applies this event to their pathway and records the points earned in the student’s account
Outcomes from FLIP and the Friar Four Career Core (F4CC)
Students who receive the Business Exploration and Cultural Agility badges, as well as the Friar Four Career Core milestones, will be able to demonstrate the following outcomes and skills:
Outcomes
- Develop an experience-based knowledge of their discipline
- Engage and reflect on new experiences
- Contribute to their communities and learn the value of making a contribution
- Understand the needs of others by acquiring cultural awareness and learning to appreciate differences
- Acquire managerial skills including planning, organizing, problem solving, and communicating
- Gain exposure to styles of leadership and best practices
Skills
- Application of theoretical reasoning to business problems
- Awareness of the decision-making process
- Improved communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to critically examine their experiences
- Improved oral and written proficiencies
- Develop leadership skills
Molly Magrane
Assistant Director, Student Engagement & Academic Advising
Ryan Center 135B
401-865-2038
mmagrane@providence.edu
