Student Experience Project

Small changes. Big impact.
Student Experience Project

Student Experience Project

The Student Experience Project (SEP) is a faculty‑centered, research‑informed initiative at UT Arlington, led by faculty facilitators and supported through a collaboration among SEP, the Division of Student Success, the Division of Faculty Success, and the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence (CRTLE). The project is funded by the Raikes Foundation. SEP focuses on improving the college experience by helping faculty integrate small, evidence‑based practices that foster welcoming learning environments, strengthen students’ sense of belonging, and support persistence and degree completion. Through a community‑of‑practice model, SEP emphasizes growth mindset, resilience, self‑efficacy, trust, and effective classroom practices, offering practical strategies that can be integrated into courses without requiring major redesigns.

Student Experience Project
Three to thrive logo

Three to Thrive

Three to Thrive is part of The Student Experience Project (SEP), which is dedicated to reshaping the college experience and fostering supportive learning environments by collecting formative feedback from students and applying innovative, evidence-driven strategies that promote degree completion.

Interested in Joining Look for our Three to Thrive tips in Pedagogy Next

SEP Applications

Become a Student Experience Project (SEP) Fellow by joining this community of practice focusing on deliberate, mindful integration of research-based, positive student success elements into teaching. Through UT System support, the SEP community of practice focuses on: Growth Mindset, Resilience, Self-Efficacy, Trust, Welcoming Environment.

To Apply MORE INFORMATION

Testimonial

See what faculty at UTA have to say about their experiences with making small changes to create a big impact in the classroom!

The three pillars

Three to Thrive is oriented around three pillars that are designed to promote supportive learning experiences and foster social connection. These practices aim to normalize seeking help, making mistakes as opportunities for growth, fostering peer connections, and prioritizing self-care. Although focused on the student experience, these practices also provide instructors with practical ways to channel their compassion and care.

The three pillars are:

  1. Emphasize that making mistakes presents opportunities to learn and grow; share this message before and after major assignments and exams and periodically throughout the semester.  
  2. Gather student feedback on the classroom experience mid-semester to show students the instructor is open to learning and is exhibiting a growth mindset.  
  1. Communicate in the course syllabus, learning management system, and regularly throughout the semester that all students are welcome and valued and that everyone will learn from one another.
  2. Create small groups among students and set aside time once a week for students to ask each other questions related to the course and benefit from peer support.
  3. Share brief videos at the beginning of class that feature representatives from resources across campus (CAPS, food pantry, SAR, Writing Center, tutoring, money management, etc.).
  1. Develop a framing statement for assessments that fosters trust and promotes self-efficacy.  
  2. Provide specific suggestions and connections to resources for students to improve. 
  3. Reinforces students’ confidence that the instructor believes they are capable of meeting challenging standards. 
  4. Convey that the instructor maintains high yet achievable expectations for student work.   
  5. Let students know you want to hear from them by establishing “drop-in” or visitor hours in a common space (including online) and encouraging them to bring a friend or classmate. 
Trinity Hall

Ongoing Research & Updates

As the pilot progresses, the research team will integrate findings and feedback to improve the teaching practices and the instructor experience. Regular updates will be available on this page. 

 

UTA’s Collaborative Student Experience Project Team:

SEP admin team

Ashley Purgason

Vice Provost

Division of Student Success

Ashley Purgason profile picture

Email: purgason@uta.edu

Beth Fleener

Sr. Teaching Innovation Research Associate

Beth Fleener

Peggy Semingson

Interim Director

Department of Linguistics and Tesol

Peggy Semingson profile picture

Email: peggys@uta.edu

Shanna Banda

Assistant Vice Provost

Department of Faculty Success

Shanna Essiann profile picture

Email: sbanda@uta.edu

Faculty co-facilitators

Heather Arterburn

Associate Professor of Instruction

Department of Biology

Heather Arterburn profile picture

Email: heathera@uta.edu

Tyler Garner, Ph.D.

CRTLE Faculty Facilitator

Tyler Garner

Email: tgarner@uta.edu

Faculty Fellows

First Name Last Name
Agnes Deleawe
Ahmad Hamdan
Bonnie Laster
Caitlin Maynard
Carter Tiernan
Christine Roberts
Erin Austin
Heather Hewer
Ida Klang
Jaya Davis
Jennifer Lanter
Jo Ward
Justin Lerberg
Larry Nelson
Melissa Walsh
Sarah Shelton
Sarah Booker
Shelley Wigley
Sophia Fantus
Tyler Garner
Vinayak Kaushal

Contact dss@uta.edu with questions or feedback