In an effort to reach more students and secure ways to make intense and accelerated learning experiences more equitable, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of the Provost sent an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional team to the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) 2018 Institute on High-Impact Practices and Student Success.
A five-member team, chaired by Interim Assistant Provost Jessica Harris, PhD, went to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for the AAC&U’s workshop that runs from June 19-22.
“We must act with intention and care to ensure that all students have access to high impact practices (HIPs), and our actions reflect our commitment to equity and inclusive excellence,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD.
Other team members include Venessa A. Brown, PhD, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer; Kevin Thomas, EdD, director of Retention and Student Success; Matthew Schunke, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and chair of the general education committee, and Tarsha Moore, advisor for Transition Programs and Outreach in the Office of Student Affairs.
Cobb had the idea to send the team after Dr. Tia Brown McNair’s visit to campus last year. McNair, vice president in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Student Success at AAC&U, was the keynote speaker for SIUE’s Continuous Improvement Conference.
“Dr. McNair’s work stresses the importance of HIPs in promoting student success and encouraging learning,” Cobb explained. “SIUE has long been recognized for its signature Senior Assignment experience. Additionally, we have foundational pieces built into the curriculum such as our Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities program that builds toward our goals related to improved student learning and increased retention and graduation rates for all student groups.”
“We want to improve and scale up our existing high impact practices to further support student learning,” said Harris. “We also want to look at those students who are participating in HIPs and those who are not.”
“We have to look at the data and ask how many engaged participants are of color, low income or first generation students,” she continued. “Equity, ensuring that all of our students have access to these high impact educational experiences, is vital.”
“I have confidence that our interdisciplinary and cross-divisional team will return with a plan,” said Cobb, “that brings our faculty and staff’s talents together to promote and further the learning and success for all of our students.”
Photo: Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD.