High Impact Practices (HIPs) in the UW System

Inspired by George Kuh and the AAC&U

This site draws from the work of educational researcher George Kuh and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), who have taken the lead nationally in establishing the importance of high-impact practices. In the AAC&U monograph High-Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them, and Why They Matter,George Kuh presents data on HIPs from the National Survey of Student Engagement and relates the pivotal role HIPs play in providing a 21st-century liberal education.

More on HIPs

High Impact Practices are: 

  • intellectually engaging and effective educational practices;
  • shown to deepen student learning and engagement;
  • shown to raise levels of performance, retention and success for all students.

As a set of purposeful learning experiences, HIPs have the potential to lead students to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and habits of mind that are essential for life and livelihood in the 21st century global society.

Research shows that high-impact teaching practices (known as HIPs) are especially effective at helping students reach those learning outcomes valued most by the academy, including University of Wisconsin institutions in particular.

HIPs embody the hallmarks of a quality education and they lead to more and better-prepared graduates from UW institutions.

For more information on how the UW system characterizes quality education, go to LEAP Wisconsin.