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High-Impact Practices

High-Impact Practices, also known as HIPs, are engaged teaching practices that foster deep learning by encouraging student engagement in the experience. UWF encourages all students to participate in at least two HIPs prior to graduation.

Official UWF HIPs

Capstone projects are culminating experiences that are part of your degree program. These projects allow you to display creativity, innovation, and mastery of the skills and knowledge you’ve obtained through all of your coursework. Examples of capstone projects include research papers, a performance, a portfolio, or an art exhibit.

Example: Electrical and Computer Engineering Capstone Project Showcase

Collaborative learning involves two or more people working together to solve a problem, complete a task, or create a product. Collaborative learning may include team-based assignments or cooperative projects and research.

Examples:

Common Intellectual Experiences are experiences shared by students, faculty, and staff who are intentionally brought together in support of building community. These programs often combine broad themes—e.g., technology and society, global interdependence—with a variety of curricular and co-curricular options for students.

Examples:

The Diversity and Global Learning HIP includes courses and programs that help students explore cultures, life experiences, and worldviews different from their own. This HIP is amplified by experiential learning in the community and by study abroad.

ePortfolios are a web-based collection of your best assignments and other learning artifacts that showcase your development throughout your degree program.

Internships and Field Experiences allow you to apply the knowledge you’ve gained in the classroom in the professional field you are considering for a future career path. These experiences help you gain valuable work experience that will bolster your resume, making you a standout applicant to recruiters.

Intensive written and oral communication experiences emphasize writing across the curriculum at all levels of instruction, including final-year projects. Students are encouraged to produce and revise various forms of writing for different audiences in different disciplines.

Conducting research allows you to partner with faculty/researchers to examine, create, and share new knowledge or works in ways that are consistent with practices in your discipline.

Service and Community-Based Learning combines classroom instruction with community engagement. These hands-on experiences let you see firsthand the topics you're learning about in class, giving you a chance to assess real issues and develop solutions.

For questions, please contact our office at career@uwf.edu or 850.474.2254.