High-Impact Practices, Peer Tutoring, and Underrepresented Student Retention
Higher education leaders are continually seeking strategies to boost student retention and persistence to graduation. One proven approach is engaging students in High-Impact Educational Practices (HIPs) – enriching experiences like learning communities, service learning, undergraduate research, and peer-to-peer programs. For underrepresented minority students, in particular, these practices can be game-changers. This article explores how encouraging underrepresented students to participate in HIPs such as peer tutoring leads to stronger academic outcomes, higher retention rates, and improved persistence to graduation, all while fostering a greater sense of belonging on campus. We’ll also highlight the dual benefits of peer tutoring – for both the tutor and the tutee – and conclude with steps administrators can take to harness these benefits on their own campuses.