Multidisciplinary Approaches to Culminating Student Experiences

“Multidisciplinary Approaches to Culminating Student Experiences” provides a practical and inclusive overview of one of the lesser-known high-impact practices (HIPs). This useful text is not only multi-disciplinary, it is also multi-layered.

A new instructor (or an instructor new to culminating experiences) should benefit from the transparency of the approach, as editors and authors break down the concept into its constituent parts using clear and jargon-free language. Also, several chapters include supplemental resources, notable highlights of which include assessment rubrics (chapter 2, assessment), sample reflective assignments (chapter 3, reflection), and portfolio planning guides (chapter 8, portfolios).

That said, even faculty who have engaged in these practices previously will find much to inspire and elevate their practice, particularly because the larger framework allows for the sharing of practice across levels (e.g., early undergraduate, advanced undergraduate, graduate) as well as disciplines and institutions.

Last but not least, the impact is not limited to the classroom, as the authors articulate potential implications for administrative practice, curriculum design, program assessment, and further scholarship.

Dr. Laura E. Cruz

Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence

Pennsylvania State University