GSBC is proud to announce the expansion of its innovative student assessment tool, the Experience & Action Journal, a model thoughtfully designed to foster reflection, real-world application and strategic thinking. Beginning with the 2025 School Session, all GSBC student assessments will be delivered through this new format.
Originally piloted in 2024 for first-year students, the Journal replaces traditional exams with a more meaningful, dynamic approach; one that emphasizes self-reflection, peer collaboration and actionable insight. Its expansion is a natural evolution of GSBC’s commitment to Bolder Banking, an approach centered on equipping community bank leaders with forward-thinking tools to navigate an increasingly complex industry.
What is the Experience & Action Journal?
The Journal is a structured guide students complete during each year of their GSBC experience. It prompts students to reflect on course takeaways, apply lessons to their professional roles and identify specific action items for their banks or organizations. It culminates in a leadership-facing summary designed to spark conversations and accountability within their organizations, turning classroom insights into institutional impact.
Why expand it?
Following enthusiastic feedback from 2024 first-year students and faculty, GSBC saw clear value in implementing the Journal across all three years of the program. This continuity enables students to build on past reflections, track their growth and stay anchored in personal and professional development throughout their GSBC journey.
“The Experience & Action Journal is more than an assessment—it’s a tool for transformation,” said GSBC President Michael Stevens. “It helps students convert what they’ve learned into strategies they can act on. This kind of intentional reflection is exactly what modern community banking leadership demands.”
As GSBC celebrates the 74th year of its flagship program, the expansion of the Journal reflects how the school continues to grow its roots deeper while branching boldly into the future. It’s one of many initiatives aligned with GSBC’s 2025 theme, Rooted for Growth, which underscores the school’s commitment to cultivating leaders, connections and momentum that extend well beyond the classroom.