High Impact Educational Practices (HIPs)
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s commitment to High Impact Educational Practices (HIPs) has created a pervasive culture of teaching excellence that benefits students from diverse backgrounds who have a range of learning needs.
Faculty members are encouraged to explore the many HIPs practices at ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ below and to get involved with HIPs teaching strategies. To help faculty become skilled in HIPs, the Faculty Center for Professional Excellence (FCPE) offers faculty-led workshops throughout the year. View our workshop and events page to see our latest offerings. The FCPE also partners with the HIPs Committee to support the HIPs Teaching and Learning Grant Program. Faculty interested in applying for a HIPs Grant can view the call for proposals.
The AAC&U has identified HIPs as ‘teaching strategies and designs that researchers have proven to be beneficial for student success, retention and engagement. Through intentional program design and advanced pedagogy, these types of practices can enhance student learning and narrow gaps in achievement across student populations.’ The AAC&U’s web pages contain useful that can help inform practitioners as they seek to expand on and refine their HIPs work.
First-Year Seminars and Experiences
The First Year Seminar and Freshman Orientation Experience at ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ offer students the opportunity to participate in communities of inquiry around the problems and ideas that ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ faculty are engaged with in their own research.
Collaborative Assignments and Projects
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s Collaboration Project has existed since 2006, with the goal to build community and fostering multi- and inter-generational understanding among faculty, students, staff, administrators and the community at-large and student leadership development in social justice related efforts.
Undergraduate Research
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s strong commitment to undergraduate research is evidenced by its annual Research Conference and related activities.
Common Intellectual Experiences
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s Community Reads Program engages students in a common reading and essay-writing contest.
Diversity/Global Learning
The Center for Student Involvement and Multicultural Affairs at ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ enacts ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s deep commitment to diversity through a range of initiatives including the Dinner and Dialogue Series, Diversity Months, LGBTQ ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, and I Am Diversity at AU.
Internships, Service Learning, and Community-Based Learning
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s robust internship and service learning programs offer students the opportunity to integrate academic studies with real world experience while helping others.
Learning Communities
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s Learning Communities are a series of required programs that bring together faculty and first-year students in an integrated environment. These programs include FOrE – First Year Orientation Experience, First Year Seminar and the First Year Reading Experience.
Capstone Courses and Projects
Like Writing Intensive courses at ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, Capstone Experiences exist across all disciplines at ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. View a sample Capstone Thesis Guide for International Studies Majors to get a sense of the quality and rigor of culminating academic experiences at ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ.