Strategic Plan Implementation Update: April, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to all who participated in the session on Thursday (March 13)! Jen Guyer-Wood and Dennis Cao (working group co-chairs) shared input draft criteria for identifying a subset of High Impact Practices (HIPS) at Macalester. These initial efforts by the working group aim to describe a common approach to what constitutes a HIP at Macalester.

By testing a defined set of criteria on the areas of study away, community engagement, and experiential learning (e.g. summer student research, internships, etc.) the HIPs working group was able to pilot a core data gathering strategy that should be scalable to other activities. An overview of preliminary participation rates for 2024 and 2025 graduates in a set of 24 programs were shared for interpretation by attendees. The comments provided by attendees will be used by the working group to determine next steps.. You can view the slide deck at this link. 

Please RSVP for the the last strategic planning implementation session of the semester, which will be held Tuesday, May 13 from 1:15 p.m – 3 p.m. in Kagin Ballroom. Members of the Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC) will lead the session as we consider next steps for potential curricular models. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wishing you well.

Jeff Allen and Paul Overvoorde

Co-chairs of the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee