High-impact educational practices (HIPs) like capstone experiences, internships, study away, and undergraduate research are associated with substantial learning gains for post-secondary students. Nearly two decades of research demonstrates benefits for students’ college completion, deep learning, and engagement (Kuh 2008; Brownell and Swaner 2010; Kuh and O’Donnell…

60-Second SoTL – Episode 72 What do employers actually think about higher education’s role in preparing students for an uncertain future? This episode features the latest employer report from the American Association of Colleges and Universities: Finley, Ashley. 2025. The Agility…

Last week, the Center for Engaged Learning released the topline results for our latest national survey of recent university graduates, exploring their experiences during college with the key practices for fostering engaged learning, high-impact practices (e.g., internships, undergraduate research, study away), and mentoring. In this post, I offer a closer…

In many ways, AI assistance can be helpful with writing, but one that has never made sense to me is asking AI to help formulate an opinion. I occasionally see this from students when I ask them what they think…

Signature work represents one of higher education’s most innovative approaches to deep, integrative learning. As defined by the American Association of Colleges and Universities  (AAC&U 2015), signature work consists of student-driven, integrative projects that address complex, real-world problems by synthesizing…

Throughout this series, we have touched on the research behind undergraduate student leadership and its impact on students post-college, along with some critiques. Before we conclude, we would like to offer some additional benefits undergraduate student leadership offers.  Undergraduate student…

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has defined high impact practices (HIPs) as experiences that promote student success which is determined by academic achievement, persistence, satisfaction, attainment of educational objectives, and acquisition of desired learning outcomes (Kuh 2017)….

Making College “Worth It”- Season 2, Episode 3 This episode covers the complexities of a work-integrated learning experience, including both the benefits and the challenges. With guests, Dr. CJ Fleming, an associate professor of psychology, and Annelise Weaver, a senior…

The Center for Engaged Learning periodically conducts surveys on students’ experiences in higher education and their application to students’ post-graduation lives. Our latest iteration surveyed 956 U.S. residents who were 18-34 years old and graduates of two- or four-year higher…

Recently, I co-facilitated an undergraduate workshop about intentionally building connections with supportive faculty, staff, and peer mentors. In alignment with principles from relational mentoring, we collectively acknowledged that embracing some personal vulnerability was crucial for building meaningful interpersonal connections (Johnson…