High-Impact Practices

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of High-Impact Practices, offered in courses across the College. These learning experiences help students fulfill their General Education Objectives and have been shown to enhance student learning outcomes. The High-Impact Practices formally offered at Queensborough include Academic Service-Learning, Collaborative Assignments and Projects, Common Intellectual Experiences, Global and Diversity Learning, Undergraduate Research, and Writing Intensive classes.

Academic Service-Learning (ASL) – Students participate in assignments that encourage meaningful service to the community. Faculty development in design and implementation occurs throughout the semester. Students apply classroom knowledge and skills for civic engagement. Through reflection, students enrich their learning, become civically engaged, and strengthen communities.

Collaborative Assignments and Projects/Students Working in Interdisciplinary Groups (CAP-SWIG) – This HIP promotes integrative, collaborative learning across participating classes. Students from courses in different disciplines use technology (usually a wiki) to collaborate and exchange ideas asynchronously, while learning to recognize and apply different disciplinary lenses in their thinking. SWIG assignments move the classes from a teacher-centered to a student-centered space where peers are the audience for learning and dialogue.

Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) – The annual campus-wide common intellectual experience is called the Common Read. This program promotes integrative learning across the curriculum through voluntary participation of faculty. Students participate in cross-disciplinary events which provide an opportunity for increased social and academic engagement while supporting the learning that takes place in the classroom.

Global and Diversity Learning (GDL) – Students learn about global issues and multiple perspectives of viewing the interdependent world. The program includes Intercultural Learning, Global Citizenship, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development. Students have the opportunity for exploring the resources in the Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives and the QCC Art Gallery.

Undergraduate Research (UR) – Students learn about the scientific method by carrying out actual research as part of their program or in an independent study research course. Students become familiar with different aspects of the research process in a discipline while conducting actual research as part of a regular course, research course, or internship. Participating Queensborough students have won many awards, published in journals, and presented at national conferences as a result of their undergraduate research experiences.

Writing-Intensive Courses (WI) – Courses are designed to improve students’ writing ability through all academic disciplines. Students are taught to produce and revise their writing through the guidance of their professor with additional support available from the Center for Tutoring and Academic Support (CTAS). Two writing-intensive courses are required to graduate.

For more information, please visit the High Impact Practices Website.

For additional details, please contact The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (L-314) at cetl@qcc.cuny.edu or (718) 281-5161.

High Impact Practices and Experiential Learning

High Impact Practices and Experiential Learning