UHP and Edge Experiences
Edge Experiences/High Impact Practices
General Information
The UHP is a Learning Community, one of several forms of High Impact Practice. Honors Students must complete several EDGE Experiences during their time at UTEP. The UHP will count your participation in UTEP EDGE Experiences as honors credit. Below is a list of experiences that are counted for honors. Each student must participate in a minimum of four (4) categories, and the specific requirements vary depending on the college.
- Capstone Experiences
- Study Abroad/Study Away
- Community Engagement
- Student Employment
- Creative Activities
- Student Leadership
- Internships
- Research and Scholarly Activities
- Professional Preparation
1. Capstone Experiences: Involves exploring or researching a topic of interest. This experience is for year-long research on the last year of your college career
2. Community engagement: Through a variety of community activities, students learn about social contexts and challenges as well as how to positively impact their community. Students may engage in the community in a variety of ways. In order to receive credit, students must participate in at least 40 hoursthrough the community service involvement website The Cueor through a UTEP registered organization. It is mandatory to register the service provided on THE CUE platform to received credit. For UTEP registered organization, students must stay in the organization and actively participate in community service for one year. Although the maximum accreditation allowed by UHP is one (1), we encourage you to continue to participate in UTEP community service throughout your college career
3. Creative Activities: At UTEP, students can expand their learning through participating in a creative project under the mentorship of a faculty expert. Each project is unique and depends on the discipline and the type of work the student and mentor decide to pursue. To be considered a High Impact Practice, the project must be to be published or in an exhibition
4. Internships: Are a type of experiential learning that allows students to “test-drive” their career and professional goals. Completing an internship through your academic department or through the Internship Program at the University Career Center can make students more marketable in their future careers and can promote the application and integration of knowledge. At The University of Texas at El Paso, we encourage our students to take part in self-discovery and exploration. Internship opportunities are accessible via the Job Mine portal for students to view and apply to positions. To receive credit, the student must register the activity in job mine unless it is a formal internal course and must be completed within the academic or pre-professional field.
5. Professional Preparation: It is important to lay the groundwork for professional success early in one's academic career. Students who can submit evidence of extensive preparation for their intended profession, such as time spent with a professional mentor or "shadowing" a professional, can be said to have completed this form of EDGE experience. To receive credit student must complete at least 40 hours within the same activity in their field; different activities cannot be combined to meet the minimum required
6. Research and scholarly activities: This high impact practice introduces undergraduate students to the culture of learning by doing, through self-directed inquiry under the guidance of an expert faculty mentor. Students and their research mentors collaborate as partners while exploring topics of interest to them. Each project is unique and depends on the discipline and the type of work the student and mentor decide to pursue
Helpful links:
Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives (COURI) – A centralized office dedicated to facilitating, enhancing and showcasing the research training of UTEP and visiting undergraduate students
Academic year and summer program opportunities – a database of UTEP and external programs students can apply for to receive stipend support, professional development training and more.
Pathways to Science – a database of opportunities and other resources for students in the sciences
Council on Undergraduate Research Student Events and Resources – The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is a national organization with affiliated colleges, universities, and individuals who share a focus on providing undergraduate research opportunities for faculty and students at all institutions serving undergraduate students. This page provides information about CUR sponsored national conferences for undergraduate researchers and other resources for students to advance their careers.
Important Notice:
We recognize your excellent work that you are doing on your research or creative arts project. We kindly ask that to receive honors credit for your research or creative arts project that you please register for RSRC 4033 and obtain a grade of S. For other questions or concerns please contact uhpnetwork@utep.edu
7. Student Leadership: The University of Texas at El Paso views student leadership as a critical process for students to understand to become effective agents of positive change in their own lives, the organizations they work in, and communities where they reside. We recognize that students come to the University with varying degrees of leadership experience and commit to the enhancement and development of our students as future global leaders. To receive credit, student must hold an officer position and be involved in a UTEP registered organization at least one (1) year. Although the maximum accreditation allowed by UHP is one (1), we encourage you to continue to participate in UTEP organizations throughout your college career.
8. Study away/study abroad: This experience prepares UTEP students for the challenges and complexity of a 21st century world. Study abroad, study away or faculty-led academic and cultural experiences are credit-based and include a culminating experience in which students obtain increase understanding of his/her academic discipline, language proficiency, field research techniques, service learning or career-related knowledge.
UTEP students have traveled the world participating in study abroad/study away activities in a variety of countries including:
Argentina Germany Peru
Australia Greece Scotland
Bhutan Hungary South Africa
Colombia Indonesia South Korea
Czech Republic Italy Spain
England Mexico Switzerland
Estonia Morocco United Kingdom
France New Zealand United States
Note: The student should submit their unofficial transcript together with the Completion Form to obtain credit.
As a result of studying abroad or away, a student will:
Possess an understanding of similarities and differences across many dimensions including gender, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, religious belief, ability, generation, nationality, family status and more. Appreciate personal and cultural differences and see their value, particularly in a collaborative setting. Expand their cultural awareness and understanding their connection to the global community. Demonstrate greater autonomy, evaluate problem solving-strategies, and demonstrate independent decision-making enhance his/her resume and increase job opportunities.
9. Student Employment on-campus: Working through college is a proud UTEP tradition. Employment through the university also helps students spend more time on campus, in the academic environment. As key contributors to the UTEP community, on-campus student employees purposefully connect to faculty, staff, and fellow students, grow personally and professionally, and offset their educational costs. And they do all of this while going to classes and pursuing their educational and career dreams. To receive credit, it must be on-campus and work at the same place for at least one consecutive (1) year.