Paper or Plastic? A community-engaged design clinic as Common Intellectual Experience (CIE)

This design clinic builds on our small campus’ (FTE 900) experience with using case studies as the basis of common intellectual experiences (CIEs) (Cruz et al, 2023), an under-studied high impact practice. George Kuh, the originator of the high impact practice model, described CIEs as “advanced integrative studies [that often] combine broad themes—e.g., technology and society, global interdependence—with a variety of curricular and co-curricular options for students.” (Kuh, 2008. 1). The results of an AY 2023-23 pilot program were promising, leading to widespread interest in continuing to evolve how timely, relevant, and cross-disciplinary cases can be integrated across the curriculum and, perhaps especially, into the local community, part of a vibrant and expanding urban area with a large percentage of first- and second- generation immigrant groups.