From Here to QEP Presented to UCAPP, Senate Council, & Deans’ Council Deanna Sellnow & Kaveh Tagavi October 2009

Why are we here? To introduce QEP To suggest a QEP pre-planning team & timeline To seek input for getting broad-based campus involvement To get endorsement & on Nov. Senate agenda

What is a QEP? Quality Enhancement Plan Required for SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation: “. . . a carefully designed course of action that addresses a well-defined and focused topic or issue related to enhancing student learning. The QEP should be embedded within the institution’s ongoing integrated institution- wide planning and evaluation process . . .” (SACS Handbook for Reaffirmation of Accreditation, 2007, p. 3)

An Acceptable QEP . . . includes a broad-based institutional process identifying key issues emerging from institutional assessment, focuses on learning outcomes and/or the environment supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution, demonstrates institutional capability for the initiation, implementation, and completion of the QEP, includes broad-based involvement of institutional constituencies in the development and proposed implementation of the QEP, and identifies goals and a plan to assess their achievement. (SACS Core Requirement 2.12)

Sample QEP Topics: “Enhancing Student Learning Through Improved Advising” (Louisiana State Univ.) “Do the Right Thing: A Campus Conversation on Ethics” (Texas Tech Univ.)

More Sample Topics… “Degrees of Excellence— Reconceptualizing the Core Curriculum” (Univ. of Alabama) “Enhancing Student-Faculty Engagement” (Univ. of Virginia)

More Sample Topics… “The International and Intercultural Awareness Initiative” (Univ. of Tennessee) “The Integrated Communication Initiative” (Webber International Univ.) “Discovery Based Learning: Transforming the Undergraduate Experience Through Research” (University of Houston) “The Student-Achievement Center: Enhancing Student Learning in a Comprehensive Service Center” (Louisiana Tech Univ.)

10-Step QEP Process: Select the topic. Define student learning outcomes. Research the topic. Identify actions to be implemented. Establish an implementation timeline. Describe the infrastructure for implementation and continuation of the QEP. Identify resources. Assess goal attainment. Prepare the QEP document (December 2012). Prepare Impact Report (December 2017).

Topic Selection Best Practices Pre-Planning Team Develop a topic selection plan and timeline QEP Topic Identification Team Topic identification—ensure broad input QEP Development Team Conduct research and write the plan Engage experts and develop “champion” QEP Implementation Team Pre-implementation—baseline data & initial structures Implementation—manage QEP & resources

What NOT To Do . . . Present the QEP as merely “another SACS hoop to jump through” Impose a QEP topic from the top down Submit a QEP topic that describes initiatives already fully realized Try to do too much

QEP Process Thus Far. . . A group of SACS workshop attendees proposed a topic selection pre- planning team & timeline Reviewed and supported by the Provost Presentations to UCAPP, Senate Council, & Deans’ Council for input & endorsement University Senate approval

Proposed Pre-Planning Team SACS Workshop Attendees Heidi Anderson, Mike Mullen, Rena Murphy, Deanna Sellnow, Kaveh Tagavi, Marsha Watson, and VP Constance Ray (ex-officio facilitator) Four additional faculty members to be appointed by the University Senate Council

Proposed Timeline Oct 2009: Brief Presentations Nov 2009: Pre-Planning Team Established Jan 2010: Topic Selection Plan Finalized Feb 2010: Topic Selection Plan Approved Nov 2010: Senate Approves QEP Topic Dec 2010: President Approves QEP Topic Jan 2011: QEP Planning Committee Named Jan-May 2012: QEP Vetted With Campus Community Sept-Dec 2012: Final QEP Approval Process Jan 2013: QEP Submitted to SACS Dec 2017: Prepare Impact Report

Go CATS! Questions? Comments?