High-Impact Practices Overview and Resources
High-Impact Practices Overview and Resources
For more information or an individual consultation, please contact Nate Poling - npoling@tamu.edu
High-Impact Practices (HIPs) are evidence-based educational experiences that require significant time and effort, foster substantive interactions with faculty and peers, involve frequent feedback and reflection, and often connect learning to real-world contexts. These features are linked to improved learning, persistence, and equity. Engaged learning complements HIPs by emphasizing active, intentional participation and integration of learning across multiple experiences.HIPs help facilitate student learning as both process and product. This 3D representation of Bloom’s Taxonomy can be helpful for designing HIPs and for helping students better understand multidimensional learning.
Why HIPs & Engaged Learning Matter?
Research shows that HIP participation correlates with deeper learning, higher engagement, and improved retention, especially for historically underserved students when access and quality are prioritized. Students completing two or more HIPs—one early and one later in their program—report stronger integrative learning and persistence.
What Counts as a HIP?
High-Impact Practices can help enhance student learning. HIPs achieve their impact through quality design. Key markers include: high expectations, significant time and effort, substantive faculty and peer interaction, experiences with diversity, frequent and timely feedback, structured reflection and integration, real-world application, and public demonstration of competence. Equity requires removing barriers, monitoring participation, and ensuring consistent quality. HIPs can be assessed using tools such as the AAC&U’s VALUE Rubrics, which can be modified depending on purposes, discipline, and contexts.
The 11 High-Impact Practices
First-Year Seminars & Experiences
Small, inquiry-based courses introduce students to academic expectations, campus resources, and collaborative learning. These seminars build belonging and critical skills early, which supports persistence. Best practices include clear outcomes, active learning, and structured reflection.
Common Intellectual Experiences
Shared curricula or thematic pathways create coherence across general education and major courses. They help students revisit big questions and integrate knowledge. Effective design uses common readings, integrative assignments, and transparent assessment.
Learning Communities
Linked courses and co-curricular activities foster peer support and integrative learning. They enhance engagement and belonging. Best practices include intentional course pairing, collaborative projects, and faculty coordination.
Writing-Intensive Courses
Courses emphasizing frequent, scaffolded writing deepen critical thinking and communication skills. Iterative feedback and revision are essential. Best practices include varied genres, peer review, and clear rubrics.
Collaborative Assignments & Projects
Team-based work mirrors real-world problem-solving and develops interpersonal skills. Effective collaboration requires clear roles, accountability, and reflection. Best practices include structured checkpoints and shared deliverables.
Undergraduate Research
Students engage in authentic inquiry under faculty mentorship, building confidence and disciplinary skills. Best practices include scaffolding, regular feedback, and opportunities for dissemination.
- TAMU Undergraduate Research
- Resources for Mentors of Undergraduate Research
- Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)
- Developing Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences
- CUREs: Bringing Research into the Classroom
- A CURE for Everyone: A Guide to Implementing Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences
- Council on Undergraduate Research – Student Resources
- Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research
- Undergraduate Research Journals & Opportunities
Diversity/Global Learning
Experiences that engage cultural difference—locally or abroad—develop intercultural competence and ethical reasoning. Best practices include pre-engagement preparation, critical reflection, and equitable access.
Service- or Community-Based Learning
Students apply academic knowledge in community contexts with reciprocal partnerships. This fosters civic responsibility and deeper learning. Best practices include co-created goals, structured reflection, and attention to ethics.
Internships and Field Experiences
Supervised, career-relevant placements connect theory to practice and build professional identity. Best practices include clear learning goals, feedback loops, and reflective assignments.
ePortfolios
Digital portfolios allow students to collect, reflect on, and showcase learning across experiences. They promote integration and professional identity. Best practices include program-level milestones, reflective prompts, and authentic audiences.
Capstone Courses & Projects
Culminating experiences synthesize learning through significant projects or performances. They prepare students for post-graduation transitions. Best practices include iterative feedback, integration of prior work, and public presentation.