High IMpact Practices

The American Association of Colleges and Universities has designed the teaching and learning practices outlined below as “high-impact practices,” (HIPs). Their research shows that purposefully participating in the practices provides lasting educational benefits for students, particularly students who have been historically underserved by our educational institutions. 

HIPs ask students to explore critical issues, in community, and to reflect on what they have gained through this experience.  By participating in HIPs, students build strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. As students work within small teams of motivated peers, they build skills in communication and cooperation. Working with engaged faculty, students build academic confidence. A 2015 study by Hart Research Associates reports that ninety percent of employers value the skills commonly built through High Impact Practices—communication, problem solving, and critical thinking—over a student’s specific major.