This project explores the integration of high-impact practices (HIPs) and community client-based learning through UWEC’s partnership with GEEKcon, a student-run event, as part of CJ 351: Strategic Event Planning, and CJ 184: Multimedia Communication. This is a Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project collaboration with students working collaboratively across CJ 184: Multimedia Communication classes and CJ 351: Strategic Event Planning. Through this initiative, students engage in a curriculum that emphasizes “real-world” application, professional identity development, and reciprocal community engagement. The study assesses the effectiveness of this learning model, focusing on how it affects student learning outcomes, community partnerships, and student professional growth. Additionally, the project examines how these practices enhance student development in terms of leadership, communication, and critical thinking in client-based environments.
