High-Impact Practices: An Analysis of Select University and Business School Programs

Colleges and universities are finding new ways to enhance the academic environment with high-impact programs such as student-based research, internships and international study abroad programs. Research has shown that students learn most when they are more engaged in the experience rather than passive participants. This exploratory study examines high-impact opportunities for undergraduate university students in the U.S. Web sites and other materials from 90 randomly selected AACSB and ACBSP member schools were reviewed to determine how each incorporates high-impact educational practices into their overall university programs and in their business school programs. Three high-impact programs were examined: undergraduate research, internships and global learning opportunities. Recommendations for future high-impact educational practices are discussed. High Impact (HI) programs are prevalent in U.S. colleges and universities. There is a significant positive relationship between high-impact activities and graduation rates. Institutions that have healthier high impact practices have better graduation rates. Larger schools and schools with AACSB accreditation also have stronger high impact practices devoted specifically to business schools. Doctoral granting institutions scored higher in all three practices analyzed in this study. Undergraduate research is the area in which high-impact ratings were the lowest