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Division of Academic and Student Affairs 
University Honors Program

High Impact Experiences

University Honors students complete a minimum of three high impact experiences (HIEs) by the time they graduate.

HIEs are opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning outside the classroom in a way that directly aligns with their individual goals. This requirement also gives students the opportunity to reflect on how these experiences impact their learning in preparation for life after college such as graduate school or employment applications.

Students must complete high impact experiences in at least two of the categories listed below.

High Impact Experience Categories

  • Leadership
    • Leadership can take many forms and does not require a paid or elected position. Students can demonstrate leadership by contributing to existing initiatives or helping to develop new ones within a student organization.
    • Some examples: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Resident Assistant (RA) or Village Mentor (VM) for University Housing, New Student Programs Orientation Leader, Student Government official, UHP Ambassador or UHP Fellow, serving as a committee chair in a student organization, etc.
  • Disciplinary breadth
    • Exhibiting a commitment to interdisciplinary learning by completing two majors OR a major and minor from different academic disciplines.
    • For example: Chemistry and History, Engineering and Philosophy, Math and Business, English and Statistics, etc.
  • Select Explorations trips run by the UHP or another campus unit
  • Sustained volunteer service
    • A minimum of 45 hours with the same organization, project, or cause.
  • Sustained non-course based undergraduate research
    • A minimum of 45 hours with the same lab or project over an academic year.
  • Professional development
    • Developing skills that will prepare students for careers through internships, co-op experiences or Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), and other career-related/professional development opportunities.
  • Active, demonstrably engaged participation in a Living and Learning Village
  • Participation in a committed, teamwork-based student group or activity
    • For example, participating in ROTC, Marching or Pep Band, performing in a University Theatre play or a music ensemble, serving on a stage crew, or being in a dance crew.
  • Other
    • If a student completes an experience that they felt was hugely transformative or greatly impactful to their personal development, education, and/or career-readiness, they should contact their UHP advisor to discuss its potential as a High Impact Experience for the UHP.

Required Reflection

After completing each high impact experience a student must submit a request for approval with a short reflection paper.

Current students can find the instructions for how to submit for approval and what should be included in the reflection paper on the UHP Moodle Project site.