Student Experience Project

Now accepting applications to be part of the CAS Community of Practice to Improve Student Experience. 

Over a decade of research in social psychology indicates that learning mindsets play a role in students’ persistence and achievement; these mindsets are not fixed, but are shaped by messages students receive from society, from daily interactions and observations, and from their experiences in school. The Student Experience Project (SEP) is a national effort to foster a positive learning environment in the classroom and increase a student’s likelihood of persevering through academic challenges to graduation. Data from the SEP collected in 2020 - 2021 demonstrates that when student experiences in the classroom improve over the course of the term, their likelihood of earning an A or B in the course increased, and their likelihood of earning a D, F, or W (formally withdrawing from the course) decreased.

As part of the Student Experience Project, CAS is launching a community of practice for faculty interested in collaborating with peers on campus to implement evidence-based teaching practices to improve student experience. Practices include revising syllabi, reviewing and revising course policies, utilizing new grading and feedback processes, and other evidence-based approaches that increase sense of belonging, convey a growth mindset, and foster institutional trust. Faculty will have the opportunity to get frequent student feedback about their classroom experiences using Ascend, a survey tool that helps faculty reflect on and improve their teaching practices. By participating in the community of practice, faculty will build expertise in teaching practices to improve student success for students of all backgrounds at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

• $500 stipend for participating in Fall 2026
• $500 stipend for participating in Spring 2027
• Individual coaching session with an Instructional Designer

Activities for Community of Practice Participants 

As part of participation in the community of practice, instructors will:

• Complete the SEP Syllabus Review Module (asynchronously over summer 2026) 
  • Revise course syllabi to include messaging and language proven to increase sense of belonging and growth mindset among students.
  • Review course policies to ensure equitable experiences for all students.
• Implement practices to establish a classroom environment where all students feel welcome and supported to succeed.
• Utilize approaches to giving critical feedback in a way that engenders trust, increases academic engagement, and helps close academic outcome gaps.
• Survey students 3 times throughout the term using Ascend. 
• Meet with your small group three times following survey results 
• Take a brief pre- and post-semester survey 
• Participate in a 2-hour orientation one week before classes begin 
• Engage in 1-on-1 consulting with an Instructional Designer 
• Attend a 1 hour full-group meeting the week before Thanksgiving 

Instructors who choose to continue in Spring 2027 will be expected to 

• Take a brief pre- and post-semester survey 
• Deploy the SEP Ascend Survey in a large lecture course three times during the semester 
• Meet with their small group three times following survey results 
• Engage in 1-on-1 consulting with an Instructional Designer.
• Attend a full-group meeting in early April 
• Join a celebration with campus leaders, department chairs, and invited faculty guests to recognize the semester’s achievements 
• Generate a product (alone or as part of a group). Products might include: 
  • Creating a poster for the final celebration.  
  • Presenting at a college roundtable or departmental meeting about lessons learned from the experience. 
  •  Writing up the results for a Teacher Connect and/or Nebraska Today article.  

Fall 2026 Timeline