Applied Learning & High Impact Practices

The American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) describes high impact practices or HIPs as teaching and learning experiences that are “based on evidence of significant educational benefits for students who participate in them—including and especially those from demographic groups historically underserved by higher education. These practices take many different forms, depending on learner characteristics and on institutional priorities and contexts.” HIPs are “high impact” because of the positive outcomes for students who participate in them and are especially impactful for students from marginalized populations (AAC&U HIPs).

UNCW has a history of integrating high quality applied learning experiences across campus in curricular and co-curricular spaces. The expansion of applied learning across campus in the past 10+ years has helped to expand our work to align more closely with evolving conversations in higher education about HIPs. In addition to the positive outcome associated with HIPs, our work at UNCW is directly connected to our legacy of applied learning—and, indeed, applied learning remains a central element of our HIPs model.

The current framework for HIPs at UNCW includes 8 categories that were developed from existing campus and national models and reflect the scope of HIPs supported across campus and within our local, regional, and international communities. The categories have been endorsed by UNCW’s HIPs Council, which includes faculty, staff, administrators, and students. The HIPs Council was first charged in Fall 2020 by the Provost and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs with reviewing the status of HIPs on campus and identifying recommendations for supporting and scaling HIPs at UNCW.