Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education

Arthur Chickering and Zelda Gamson developed their Seven Principles in 1987, along with a task force from the American Association of Higher Education. Their goal was to develop an "accessible, understandable, practical, and widely applicable" document that could be used by educators, administrators and government policy makers to encourage 'good practice' in higher education.

These principles, which are based on a view of education as active, cooperative, and demanding, assert that good practice in undergraduate education:

1. encourages student-faculty contact
2. encourages cooperation among students
3. encourages active learning
4. gives prompt feedback
5. emphasizes time on task
6. communicates high expectations
7. respects diverse talents and ways of learning

For more information:

The Seven Principes for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education
Download the original article by Chickering and Gamson

The Seven Principes for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education: A Historical Perspective by Zelda Gamson