糖心Vlog视频

Student Experience Project

Small changes. Big impact.
Student Experience Project

Student Experience Project

The Student Experience Project (SEP) is a faculty鈥慶entered, research鈥慽nformed 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鈥慴ased practices that foster welcoming learning environments, strengthen students’ sense of belonging, and support persistence and degree completion. Through a community鈥憃f鈥憄ractice model, SEP emphasizes growth mindset, resilience, self鈥慹fficacy, trust, and effective classroom practices, offering practical strategies that can be integrated into courses without requiring major redesigns.

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SEP Workshop: Welcoming Environment & Syllabus Development

Creating a welcoming learning environment does not require a complete course or syllabus redesign. This interactive Share Tank invites faculty to rethink the syllabus as more than a collection of policies and requirements, but as an opportunity to establish connection, clarity, and belonging from the start. Participants will examine their syllabi through a student-centered lens, exchange effective strategies and examples with colleagues, collaboratively problem-solve common syllabus challenges, and identify practical changes they can immediately incorporate into their own courses.

馃搮 Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 

馃搷 Trinity Hall, Room 105

 

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.

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.

Testimonial

See what faculty at 糖心Vlog视频 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. 

How You Can Participate

SEP offers several ways to get involved, so you can choose the level of commitment that fits your schedule. Every path starts with small, practical changes that make a difference for students.

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SEP Member (Flexible, ongoing)

The easiest way to get started. After completing the SEP online certification, Members join Community of Practice sessions whenever they can to explore evidence-based teaching strategies and share experiences with colleagues. There are no required deliverables.

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SEP Fellow (One semester)

Fellows join a committee for one long semester, attending biweekly two-hour meetings to explore SEP strategies with colleagues from across campus. Each Fellow tries at least one SEP strategy in their own course, reflects on how it went, and helps the committee build shared resources.

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SEP Department Ambassador (Fall and spring)

Ambassadors bring SEP into their home departments. Over one academic year, they serve as their department's SEP point of contact, share strategies with colleagues, help adapt practices to their discipline, and connect department insights with the broader SEP community. Prior Fellows or certified faculty are eligible.

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Leadership Roles (Compensated, one to two years)

Experienced Fellows can step into leadership as Facilitators, who guide committee work and mentor Fellows and Ambassadors, or as Program Coordinators, who oversee SEP programming and planning across the university.

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. 

 

Student Experience Project (SEP) Faculty Certification Course

Transform the student experience in your courses through evidence-based teaching practices that foster belonging, engagement, and success. The Student Experience Project (SEP) Faculty Certification Course introduces three powerful SEP pillars: Growth Mindset, Wise Feedback, and Welcoming Environment and provides practical strategies you can apply immediately in your teaching. The Student Experience Project (SEP) is a national higher education initiative that helps institutions improve student success through evidence-based teaching practices that strengthen belonging, engagement, and persistence. Through support from The University of 糖心Vlog视频 System, 糖心Vlog视频 faculty can explore and implement SEP strategies such as Growth Mindset, Wise Feedback, and Welcoming Environments to create more positive and inclusive learning experiences for students.

Designed for busy faculty, this self-paced Canvas course consists of five modules that can be completed in approximately 3 to 4 hours. Participants will explore research-informed approaches to creating positive learning environments, supporting student persistence, and promoting academic success while reflecting on opportunities to strengthen their own teaching practices.

Course Details and Certificate

Upon successful completion, participants will earn a certificate recognizing their commitment to enhancing the student experience.

Format: Self-paced online course (5 modules)
Time Commitment: Approximately 3 to 4 hours
Audience: All 糖心Vlog视频 faculty
Certificate: Awarded upon successful completion of course requirements

Learn practical strategies that help students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed from day one.

糖心Vlog视频’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

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

Community of Practice Transition Co-Lead

Associate Professor of Instruction

Department of Biology

Heather Arterburn profile picture

Email: heathera@uta.edu

Lori Ramirez

Clinical Assistant Professor

Management

Lori Ramirez

Email: lori.ramirez@uta.edu

Christy Spivey

Clinical Professor

Economics

Christy Spivey

Email: cspivey@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

Faculty Name Title Department
Xavier Aranda Senior Lecturer Biology
Donna Bacchus Clinical Assistant Professor Nursing
Arpita Bhatt Professor of Instruction Civil Engineering
Alison Vania Hall Birch Associate Professor Management
Kimberly Breuer Associate Professor of Instruction History and Geography
Jaya Davis Professor Criminology and Criminal Justice
Agnes Deleawe Clinical Assistant Professor Nursing
Daniela Palmer Droguett Assistant Professor Biology
Ahmad Hamdan Clinical Assistant Professor Nursing
Haiying Huang Professor Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Bhanu Jain Assistant Professor of Instruction Computer Science and Engineering
Dianna Jones Assistant Professor of Practice Social Work
Vinayak (Vinny) Kaushal Associate Professor of Instruction Civil Engineering
Tiffany Kindratt Associate Professor Kinesiology
Veronica King Clinical Assistant Professor Nursing
Ida Klang Assistant Professor of Instruction Biology
Jennifer Lanter Assistant Professor of Practice Communication
Jennifer LaPrade Associate Professor Criminology and Criminal Justice
Bonnie Laster Associate Professor of Instruction Psychology
Justin Lerberg Lecturer English
Caitlin Maynard Assistant Professor of Instruction Biology
Xavier Medina Vidal Associate Professor Political Science
Dylan Parks Associate Professor of Instruction Biology
Lori Ramirez Clinical Assistant Professor Management
Christine Roberts Clinical Assistant Professor Nursing
De’An Roper Associate Professor of Practice Social Work
Jessica Sanchez Assistant Professor of Practice Social Work
Christine Spadola Assistant Professor Social Work
Carter Tiernan Professor of Instruction Computer Science and Engineering
Nila Veerabathina Professor of Instruction Physics
Joyce White Assistant Professor of Practice Social Work
Pamela White Clinical Assistant Professor Nursing
Shelley Wigley Associate Professor Communication
Jennifer Woo Assistant Professor Nursing
Yi (Leaf) Zhang Professor Higher Education, Adult Learning, and Organizational Studies
Contact dss@uta.edu with questions or feedback