02/18/11 An Ancilla College team of faculty and staff members, led by Dean of Academic & Student Services Joanna Blount, participated in a working conference on High Impact Practices, sponsored by the Independent Colleges of Indiana, on February 9th in Indianapolis.
Other members of the Ancilla team included: Kristin Korcha, Roba Kribs, Gene Reese, Eric Wignall, and Sister Carleen Wrasman. Other independent campuses taking part were Butler University, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Franklin College, Holy Cross College, Manchester College, Marian University, Martin University, Oakland City University, Saint Joseph’s College, Trine University, and University of Evansville.
Recent research yields compelling evidence that high-impact practices—first-year seminars, learning communities, service learning, undergraduate research, and capstone courses and projects—implemented well, can make an enormous difference in student engagement and learning outcomes. Like most ICI campuses, Ancilla already makes use of these practices in some form and is working on ways to expand their reach in order to improve student persistence and completion rates.
Jillian Kinzie, associate director of Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research, NSSE Institute (National Survey of Student Engagement), was the keynote speaker and assisted in facilitating team work and group discussions throughout the day.
Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) is a nonprofit corporation that represents the state’s 31 nonprofit accredited colleges and universities. ICI member institutions enroll some 87,000 students (approximately 20 percent of all students statewide) and annually produce 35 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in Indiana.
Ancilla College is a Catholic, two-year, co-educational, liberal arts college in Donaldson, Indiana sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Photo: (Front Row, L to R): Sr. Carleen Wrasman, PHJC; Gene Reese; Kristin Korcha. (Back Row, L to R): Dr. Joanna Blount; Roba Kribs; Eric Wignall.
