HIP Quality

High-Impact Practices (HIP) Quality Topical Module (2025)

More information about High-Impact Practices

Visit NSSE's web page about HIPs

Assessing Quality and Equity in High-Impact Practices

A project to facilitate and enhance HIP quality and equity through the development of survey items to assess HIP experiences.

Copyright © 2025 Trustees of Indiana University

This module, originally developed for the Assessing Quality and Equity in High-Impact Practices project supported by Lumina Foundation, examines how HIP experiences incorporate elements that are theorized to contribute educational benefits. It also allows participating institutions to address quality and equity concerns related to high-quality HIP experiences.

Students who indicated on the core NSSE that they have participated in at least one HIP receive a set of questions—referred to as "Questions for HIP Participants"—to explore their experiences. Meanwhile, students who have not participated in any HIPs receive an open-ended question—referred to as "Question for HIP Non-Participants"—to describe another significant learning experience they may have had.

Questions for HIP Participants

IF ONLY ONE HIP

Earlier, you indicated that you participated or are participating in: An internship, co-op, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement (Example)

We have some follow-up questions about this experience. If you participated in this type of experience more than once, base your answers on your most recent participation.

IF LEARNING COMMUNITY IS SELECTED:
1a. Did students in this program live in the same residence hall or housing unit? (1=Yes, 2=No, 9=Not sure)

IF MORE THAN ONE HIP

1. Earlier, you indicated that you participated or are participating in the special learning experiences below. Please select ONE of these experiences for a short set of follow-up questions. It can be any one you choose, so long as you remember it well. If you participated in this type of experience more than once, base your answers on your most recent participation.

An internship, co-op, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement
A learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together
A study abroad program
A research project with a faculty member
A culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, portfolio, recital, comprehensive exam, etc.)
A course that includes a community-based project (service-learning)

You selected: An internship, co-op, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement [Example]

HIP SELECTED FROM AMONG THOSE FOR WHICH THE STUDENT RESPONDED "DONE OR IN PROGRESS"

IF LEARNING COMMUNITY IS SELECTED:
1a. Did students in this program live in the same residence hall or housing unit? (1=Yes, 0=No, 9=Not sure)

2. Is this experience finished? (1=Yes, 0=No)

IF “NO”:
2a. About how long have you been participating in it? (1=1 week or less, 2=2 weeks, 3=3 weeks, 4=More than 3 weeks)

IF “YES”:
2b. When did you participate in this experience? (If you participated more than once, select the most recent.) (1=Before starting college, 2=Freshman/first year, 3=Sophomore year, 4=Junior year, 5=Senior year, 6=Other, please specify:_____)

2c. Was it offered or arranged by this institution? (1=Yes, 0=No, 9=Not sure)

3. To what extent were the following explained to you? (4=Very much, 3=Quite a bit, 2=Some, 1=Very little)

a. The activities you would do as part of this experience

b. What you would learn from this experience

c. How you would be evaluated in this experience

VERB TENSE ON ITEMS BELOW DEPENDS ON RESPONSE TO ITEM 2.

4. To what extent did [does] this experience challenge you to do your best work? (7=Very much, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1=Not at all)

5. About how many hours did [do] you spend in a typical 7-day week on this experience? (0=0, 1=1-5, 2=6-10, 3=11-15, 4=16-20, 5=21-25, 6=26-30, 7=More than 30 hours)

6. Compared to your typical learning experiences at this institution, about how much effort did [does] this experience require? (5=Much more effort, 4=More effort, 3=About as much effort, 2=Less effort, 1=Much less effort)

7. During this experience, about how often did [do] you receive helpful feedback from the following individuals? (4=Very often, 3=Often, 2=Sometimes, 1=Never, 9=Not applicable)

a. Faculty or staff member from this institution

b. Supervisor on site

c. Co-worker

d. Other student(s)

8. As part of this experience, about how often did [do] you find yourself in settings or circumstances that were [are] new or unfamiliar to you? (4=Very often, 3=Often, 2=Sometimes, 1=Never)

9. As part of this experience, about how often did [do] you interact with people from a different background or identity (racial/ethnic, economic, political, religious, etc.)? (4=Very often, 3=Often, 2=Sometimes, 1=Never)

10. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your experience? (4=Strongly agree, 3=Agree, 2=Disagree, 1=Strongly disagree)

a. I feel [felt] comfortable being myself while participating in this experience.

b. I feel [felt] valued while participating in this experience.

c. I feel [felt] like part of a community while participating in this experience.

11. How much does [did] this experience emphasize the following? (5=Very much, 4=Quite a bit, 3=Some, 2=Very little, 1=Not at all)

a. Respecting the expression of diverse ideas

b. Examining issues of equity or privilege

12. As part of this experience, about how often did [do] you meet with a faculty or staff member from this institution? (4=Very often, 3=Often, 2=Sometimes, 1=Never)

IF AT LEAST “SOMETIMES”:
12a. To what extent did [do] these meetings focus on what you were [are] learning in this experience? (4=Very much, 3=Quite a bit, 2=Some, 1=Very little, -9=Student did not receive question)

13. As part of this experience, about how often did you do [have you done] the following? (4=Very often, 3=Often, 2=Sometimes, 1=Never)

a. Work with other students

b. Discuss your experience with other students in an organized setting (class, seminar, work group, etc.)

c. Track your experience with informal writing (notes, journal, blog, etc.)

d. Connect what you were learning to societal problems or issues

e. Connect what you were learning to your major field or career goals

14. At or near the conclusion of this experience, which of the following did you do [will you have done]? (1=Yes, 0=No, 9=Not sure)

a. Give a presentation in a class or other closed meeting at this institution

b. Give a public presentation or performance (conference, video, recital, exhibit, etc.)

c. Write a paper or report

15. To what extent has this experience contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in the following areas? (4=Very much, 3=Quite a bit, 2=Some, 1=Very little)

a. Understanding concepts in your courses or major

b. Understanding societal problems or issues

c. Applying theory to practice

d. Solving complex, real-world problems

e. Acquiring job- or work-related skills

f. Preparing for your plans after graduation

g. Developing the skills necessary to work effectively with people from various backgrounds

16. Overall, how would you evaluate the quality of this experience? (7=Excellent, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1=Poor)

17. What is [was] most satisfying about this experience? (5,000 character limit; at the end of the survey, you will have an opportunity to comment on your overall experience at this institution.) [Text box]

18. What is [was] least satisfying about this experience? (5,000 character limit; at the end of the survey, you will have an opportunity to comment on your overall experience at this institution.) [Text box]

Question for HIP Non-Participants

STUDENTS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE ABOVE "PARTICIPANTS" SET RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING OPEN-TEXT QUESTION:

So far at this institution, have you had any educational experiences that profoundly impacted you or that you consider life-changing? If so, please describe. (5,000 character limit; at the end of the survey, you will have an opportunity to comment on your overall experience at this institution.) [Text box]