University Teaching and Learning Commons | Programs | Student Experience Project

The UNCG student experience project

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What is the Student Experience Project?

*Please note, this page is updated regularly as new resources become available. Check back often for the latest updates and tools available to campus.

What is the Student Experience Project?

UNCG is pleased to be joining the Student Experience Project, a multiyear, multi-institution to enhance student outcomes through partnership between faculty, staff, and administration. A collaboration of the, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, the SEP puts into place research-backed teaching practices that focus on campus climate and culture to improve academic outcomes for students and faculty success. Our 2026/2027 focus will be building a pilot community of practice for targeted faculty support and disseminating information from the SEP to campus in general through workshops and other professional development opportunities.

Stephanie Keene, Marisa Gonzalez, Gail Peck, Joyce Clapp, Maura Heyn, (seated) Teah Rawlings — (standing, left to right) Stephanie Keane, Marisa Gonzalez, Gail Pack, Joyce Clapp, Maura Heyn, (seated) Teah Rawlings, (not pictured) Dana Saunders

UNCG SEP TEam

Co-Chair: Joyce Clapp, Learning Assessment Specialist, University Teaching and Learning Commons
Co-Chair: Stephanie Keane, Senior Director of Academic Support Programs in the Division of Student Success
Marisa Gonzalez, Educational Developer, University Teaching and Learning Commons
Maura Heyn, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Gail Pack, Director of Undergraduate Student Services and Retention, Bryan Undergraduate Student Services
Teah Rawlings, AP Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Dana Saunders, Assistant Dean for Advising and Student Success

SEP Tools for Student Engagement

First Day Toolkit

SEP offers an online module outlining best practices for constructing a growth mindset-based course. Framed as a First Day/Syllabus Toolkit, instructors can deploy these strategies in multiple ways throughout your course, while still meeting the campus syllabus requirements.

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Why the Student Experience Matters

Based in research on belonging and mindset, SEP centers practical approaches to understanding and increasing student engagement and success.

Learn more about mindset and learning

SEP Resource Hub

SEP is rooted in evidence-based, best practices for developing engaged and adaptive learners. Using social psychology research on learning, SEP offers resources for engaging students through environment, supportive networks, instructor and course interactions, and campus policy to increase degree completion and student success.

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Graduate TA Support

Graduate Teaching Associates/Assistants are important components of UNCG’s teaching structure. Uniquely positioned as both student and instructor, Graduate TAs have varied and specialized development needs. SEP offers resources for supporting Graduate TAs in your unit – from developing community to GTA training.

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Other SEP Campuses

UT San Antonio

With a similar student population to UNCG, UTSA has a robust and established SEP program. The SEP at UTSA works across pan-institutional networks, faculty/instructor support, and student interventions.

Learn more

UNC Charlotte

One of the first institutions to participate in SEP, UNC-C has an established SEP program focused on course-level interventions.

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University of South Carolina

Focused on fostering belonging and fueling student success, the SEP at USC shares data on impacts from their first year in the SEP.

Learn more

Campus Contacts

If you have any questions, please email Joyce Clapp (jfclapp@uncg.edu), University Teaching and Learning Commons, or Stephanie Keene (s_keene@uncg.edu), Division of Student Success.