Opportunities in High-Impact Practices

Meet Our HIP Fellows

High-Impact Practice (HIP) Faculty Fellows are dedicated educators who drive initiatives to transform student learning through proven, high-impact teaching strategies. They are vital to advancing UNG's mission of deepening student engagement by integrating practices like experiential learning, undergraduate research, and service learning across the curriculum. They work closely with colleagues to ensure these impactful approaches are woven into courses and programs, ultimately enhancing the academic experience and preparing students for success. Contact CTLL or the HIP Faculty Fellows about learning to use High-Impact Practices in your classroom.

HIP Faculty Fellows Contact Information:

Caitlin Wills, Capstones
Brandy Pass, Service-Learning
Amanda Halliburton, Undergraduate Research
Jennifer Sears, Work-Based Learning

2026-2027 HIPs Schedule

Date/Time	Facilitator	Topic	Location
Friday, August 28, 2026 12 - 1 p.m.	Jennifer Sears	Practice Before Placement: Using Role Play and Technology to Strengthen Student Soft Skills This professional development session will explore ways faculty can help students strengthen essential soft skills before beginning an internship experience. Participants will examine how classroom-based role play and mixed reality simulation can give students opportunities to practice difficult conversations in a supportive environment. The session will highlight a course project in which students prepare in advance, interact with an adult through an actor-supported simulation, and receive immediate feedback to improve their communication, professionalism, and confidence.	Zoom Register
Friday, September 25, 2026 12 - 1 p.m.	Amanda Halliburton	Providing High Quality Undergraduate Research Experiences in the Classroom In this session, we will discuss how to effectively incorporate undergraduate research into required or elective classes. Topics will include assessing student readiness and goals, building motivation, scaling based on class size, and elevating the experience for students who want to go the extra mile.	Zoom Register
Thursday, October 29, 2026 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Zoom	Caitlin Wills	High‑Impact Capstones: Designing Transformative Culminating Experiences for Student Success This interactive workshop explores the essential elements of high-impact capstone design, helping faculty create meaningful culminating experiences that promote student engagement, achievement, and post-graduation readiness. Participants will examine evidence-based practices for developing capstones that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, reflection, collaboration, and real-world application.	Zoom Register
Thursday, November 12, 2026 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Brandy Pass	From Theory to Practice: Designing Effective Service-Learning Experiences This interactive workshop moves beyond the fundamentals of service-learning to help faculty design meaningful, course-based community engagement experiences that align with student learning outcomes. Through real-world examples, collaborative case studies, and a guided course planning activity, participants will leave with practical strategies and a draft framework for implementing or enhancing a service-learning component in one of their own courses.	Zoom Register
Thursday, January 28, 2027 12:30- 1:30 p.m.	Jennifer Sears	Partnering with Purpose: Communication Strategies for Successful Internship Experiences This professional development session will support faculty in building and strengthening partnerships with outside organizations that host students for internships. Participants will explore practical communication strategies for connecting with providers, clarifying expectations, and supporting student success throughout the internship experience. The session will also highlight ways to develop sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships between colleges and community or industry partners.	Zoom Register
Tuesday, February 23, 2027 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.	Brady Pass	From Planning to Practice: Implementing and Assessing Service-Learning Building on the foundations of service-learning course design, this interactive workshop explores practical strategies for successful implementation, meaningful student reflection, and effective assessment. Through real-world scenarios, sample reflection activities, and assessment tools, participants will develop approaches to address common challenges, strengthen community partnerships, and enhance student learning outcomes.	Zoom Register
Wednesday, March 24, 2027 12 – 1 p.m.	Caitlin Wills	The Capstone Advantage: High-Impact Practices That Elevate Engagement, Rigor, and Real-World Readiness This interactive one-hour workshop explores how thoughtfully designed capstones can serve as high-impact educational practices that deepen student engagement, strengthen academic rigor, and foster career and civic readiness. Participants will examine the key elements of effective capstone design, including authentic learning, reflective practice, interdisciplinary thinking, and real-world problem solving.	Zoom Register
Tuesday, April 27, 2027 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.	Amanda Halliburton	Mentoring Beyond the Moment: Enriching the Undergraduate Research Experience for Student Success In this session, we will discuss opportunities beyond the classroom for small group and independent undergraduate research. Topics will include recruiting strategies, mentoring for graduate school and career, helping student researchers network, and how to find funding and address other challenges.	Zoom Register

Past Schedules

2025-2026

Date/Time	Facilitator	Topic	Location
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Brandy Pass and Jennifer Sears	Learning That Works: Integrating Work-Based & Service Learning into Course Design Work-based learning and service learning are two of the High Impact Practices identified by AAC & U. At UNG, faculty in the English department and the College of Education are implementing these practices into their course design. Come learn more about how you can enhance your course design with these practices as early as tomorrow.	Zoom
Thursday, November 6, 2025 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Heath Harllee and Jennifer Herrig	Kickstart Success: HIPS for the First-Year Experience Unlock the power of High-Impact Practices (HIPs) to transform the first-year student experience. Learn practical strategies that boost engagement, accelerate learning, and create a solid foundation for success.	Zoom
Friday, January 30, 2026 noon - 1	Efren Velazquez	Becoming a Research Mentor and Recruiting Students This session will cover strategies for engaging students in undergraduate research projects.	Zoom
Thursday, February 5, 2026 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Jennifer Sears	Prepping for Work-Based Learning In this session you will be able to participate in and see how we can prepare students for one of the most important parts of work-based learning the interview. Using mixed reality simulation, participants will see how teacher candidates are currently being prepared for the interview process.	Zoom
Friday, February 27, 2026 noon - 1 p.m.	Efren Velazquez	How to Mentor Underrepresented Students in Research Learn about how faculty members can support and encourage students from underrepresented populations to engage in undergraduate research activities.	Zoom
Friday, March 6, 2026 noon - 1 p.m.	Heath Harllee	Enhancing Student Success Through FYE HIP Implementation This workshop focuses on practical strategies for addressing the eight interconnected focus areas within FYE-designated courses. Participants will explore ways to strengthen these strategies in their own course designs and discuss how each contributes to promoting student success beyond the first year.	Zoom
Thursday, March 19, 2026 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Brandy Pass	Beyond the Classroom: Integrating HIPs Service-Learning into Your Course Come explore how service-learning transforms classrooms into communities of practice. Learn practical strategies and applications that you can seamlessly incorporate into your current curriculum.

2024-2025 HIPs Schedule

Date/Time	Facilitator	Topic	Location
Friday, January 31, 2025 12 - 1 p.m.	Efren Velazquez, Undergraduate Research Faculty Fellow, and Lauren Bradshaw, Service-Learning Faculty Fellow	Service Learning and Undergraduate Research: Empowering Students with High-Impact Practices This session will delve into how these high-impact practices can enhance student engagement, foster critical thinking, and promote civic responsibility.	Zoom
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 12:30 - 1:30 p.m	Tanya Bennett, Capstones Faculty Fellow	Capstones as High-Impact Practice This workshop will explore the elements and impacts of well-designed capstone projects and courses.	Zoom

Date/Time

Facilitator

Topic

Location

Friday, January 31, 2025
12 - 1 p.m.

Efren Velazquez, Undergraduate Research Faculty Fellow, and Lauren Bradshaw, Service-Learning Faculty Fellow

Service Learning and Undergraduate Research: Empowering Students with High-Impact Practices

This session will delve into how these high-impact practices can enhance student engagement, foster critical thinking, and promote civic responsibility.

Zoom

Tuesday, March 18, 2025
12:30 - 1:30 p.m

Tanya Bennett, Capstones Faculty Fellow

Capstones as High-Impact Practice

This workshop will explore the elements and impacts of well-designed capstone projects and courses.

Zoom