Nashville State Educators Named HIP Ambassadors by Tennessee Board of Regents

Nashville State Community College is proud to announce that two of its esteemed professors, Emily Naff and Dr. Jessica Rabb, have been named High-Impact Practices (HIP) Ambassadors by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Office of Student Success.

High-Impact Practices, or HIPs, are research-based, active learning strategies designed to enhance student engagement and promote deep learning. These practices are evaluated through the National Survey on Student Engagement and have proven to contribute to greater student success.

TBR has been leading the effort for nearly 11 years on scaling and implementing HIPs across the system.

Heidi Leming, PhD, vice chancellor for Student Success & Strategic Partnerships, said that Nashville State has been a strategic partner since the inception.

Associate Professor of Photography, Emily Naff, will co-lead the Study Abroad program, while Professor of Biology, Dr. Jessica Rabb, will continue her role as an ambassador for First-Year Seminars/Experiences for the third consecutive year.

As HIP Ambassadors, Naff and Rabb will help facilitate monthly connection calls for faculty, staff, and administrators across the TBR system. These calls are designed to share strategies for effectively implementing HIPs to improve student success in academic coursework. They will also offer resources and guidance on how to integrate these impactful teaching practices with quality and fidelity.

The addition of HIP Pathway Ambassadors to the HIP Ambassador program this year represents an exciting new collaboration aimed at improving the student experience for those transferring between community colleges and universities. Under this initiative, faculty members from locally governed institutions are partnering with faculty from TBR-governed colleges.

By aligning and strengthening the integration of high-impact practices between community colleges and universities, the program aims to provide students with consistent, supportive learning opportunities that enhance their education, prepare them for future success, and make their transition from two-year to four-year institutions more effective.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in these calls and may reach out to the specific HIP Ambassador for more details or to join upcoming sessions.