SEP's Work and Impact
The Student Experience Project (SEP) is a collaborative of university leaders, faculty, researchers and national education and improvement organizations committed to innovative, evidence-based practices that increase degree attainment by transforming the college student experience and creating equitable learning environments. Research demonstrates that when when students feel welcome and supported in college, they are more likely to utilize campus resources to support their success and persist through challenges. The SEP’s mission is to find strategies to transform the college student experience so that every student feels a sense of belonging and receives the support and resources necessary to persist and succeed.
SEP Model and Proof of Concept
From 2019 – 2022, six public research institutions engaged in a rigorous cohort experience to implement practices designed to improve student experience and assess their impact on student experience and academic outcomes. Institutions engaged nearly 300 instructors in communities of practice to use evidence-based teaching practices to improve student belonging. In courses where instructors used SEP practices, student experience improved, and better student experience was associated with improved student outcomes. SEP institutions also made improvements to the learning environment beyond the classroom by modifying early alerts messages and processes, ensuring that physical campus spaces support the learning of all students, and pursuing new institutional policies and practices to promote student sense of belonging. To learn more about results from this phase of work, click here.
Scaling the SEP Approach
Since 2022, hundreds of higher education institutions have used SEP’s strategies to improve student experience in the classroom and beyond. From revising course syllabi to convey a growth mindset learning culture to creating communities of practice to support faculty and graduate students in fostering a sense of belonging, institutions have used SEP’s adaptable model to support persistence and success for all students. Explore opportunities below to improve student experience at your institution or get involved with the SEP network.
SEP Institute
Since 2023, the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) have worked with nearly 45 public universities to scale the use of evidence-based practices through the SEP Institute. The Institute leverages tools and frameworks developed and tested by the SEP to support campus teams in designing and implementing a faculty community of practice focused on equitable student experience.
First Day Toolkit
The first day of class is a key opportunity for instructors to set the tone for how students will experience the learning environment. The First Day Toolkit provides resources for institutions and instructors to establish a growth mindset culture in the classroom. Over 4,000 individuals from 850+ institutions have used the First Day Toolkit to revise their syllabi and create course policies that support all students to succeed.
SEP for GTAs
Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) play a significant role in teaching at most US higher education institutions, but they often do not receive training or professional development to help them create positive learning environments and improve their teaching. In 2023, two institutions launched communities of practice to engage GTAs with SEP practices, and compiled a comprehensive toolkit with resources for GTA communities of practice.
