In early May, more than 350 students received diplomas at Bridgewater College’s 145th Commencement ceremony, completing their journey here. And in mid-August a new class of first-year students will arrive to take those graduates’ places and begin a journey of their own. For many of us at the College, graduation and move-in day mark the two most exciting days of the academic calendar. But it’s really what happens between those days that matters most: lessons learned, connections made, skills acquired through hands-on learning and more.
Termed “high-impact programs” or “HIP” by those in higher education, it’s the hands-on learning that often becomes the most meaningful—and memorable—experience of a student’s time in college, as it may have been for you. Opportunities like study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, first-year and capstone experiences and involvement in communities near to and far from campus further enrich the classroom learning that is the foundation of a BC education. These exceptional opportunities—and the connections made from them—spur our graduates to immediate and long-term success.
Through HIPs, students hone the skills and nurture the habits of mind—including collaboration, critical thinking, and global awareness—that will mark them for success. Studies show students involved in HIPs are more likely to graduate and more likely to garner attention from employers, all of whom prioritize the skills practiced and polished through hands-on learning.
Since opening the Center for Engaged Learning a decade ago, we have placed increased emphasis on providing these opportunities to ever more students. If you’ve made a gift to The Research Experience @ Bridgewater or the Globalization Fund or provided an internship to a current student, you’ve helped make that a reality. In this issue of Bridgewater magazine, we provide a glimpse into HIPs and the marked difference they make in the lives of our students.
David W. Bushman, Ph.D.
President
