The River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) adds value by highlighting your experience focus on your transcript. RHED allows students to pick one of four tracks as a focus skill that will be added to students' transcripts once all program requirements are met. The four tracks: Leadership (Fall 2018) Entrepreneurship (Spring 2018) Global Engagement (Fall 2018) Community Engagement (Fall 2018)

The River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) is a powerful avenue for students to blend a personal interest with their academics for a credentialed outcome. This program offers students the opportunity to earn recognition by bringing together academics and experiential learning outside the classroom. Upon graduation, students earning the River Hawk Experience Distinction will receive a certificate of recognition and a notation on their official transcript. 

This opportunity to take a deep dive into 1 of 5 topics (Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Global Engagement, Community Engagement and Sustainability), called Distinctions, gives students the ability to: 

  • Deeply engage with one Distinction topic
  • Participate in interdisciplinary learning
  • Create deliberate reflections that build upon each other
  • Gain experience that is highlighted on transcript and resume
  • Develop language to articulate knowledge, skills and goals
  • Gain invaluable networking opportunities
  • Stand out among peers
Program Process & Requirements to receive a Distinction in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Global Engagement, Community Engagement, or Sustainability:
  1. Sign up and select your Distinction in the RHED portal.
  2. Complete 2 approved courses within the Distinction.
  3. Complete 2 pre-approved experiences within the Distinction.
  4. Complete guided reflections for courses/ experiences and submit supporting learning artifacts for each course (all submissions are entered in the RHED portal).
    • Reflection: An academic reflection is a short essay for assessment in an academic, experiential learning, and skill development context. Guided questions/ prompts provided.
    • Learning Artifact: A learning artifact is something that you created in response to a course assignment. It may be an essay, slideshow, website, poster, brochure, or something else.
  5. Each student may only receive one Distinction of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Global Engagement, Community Engagement, or Sustainability.
  6. Students can join RHED at any point in their college career and have until graduation to complete the program. 
  7. Once students have completed their approved courses and experiences and submitted them with the required reflections through the RHED portal, they will be notified via the RHED portal. 
  8. Upon graduation, the Distinction is added to student's transcript, they receive a certificate, and are awarded a RED braided cord to wear at graduation. 
Option: Students may propose a custom-designed experience or request a course approval by contract.
  • Submitted by student to reflect their individual experiences
  • Must meet at least half of the Distinction's learning outcomes
  • All submissions must be made prior to starting the experience or course
  • Individual request approval is managed by the RHED committee members

RHED Portal & Sign-up