The Quality Enhancement Plan

1. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

2. SACS Principles of Accreditation • Integrity • Quality Enhancement

3. Quality Enhancement “The concept of quality enhancement is at the heart of the Commission’s philosophy of accreditation; this presumes each member institution to be engaged in an ongoing program of improvement…

4. SACS – Two Parts • Certificate of Compliance • Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

5. Certificate of Compliance • HCC will signify its compliance, partial compliance or non-compliance with the core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal regulations that SACS requires for accreditation.

6. SACS Core Requirement 2.12 “Core Requirement 2.12 requires an institution to develop an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and show that the plan is part of an ongoing planning and evaluation process.”

7. “Engaging the wider academic community, the QEP is based upon a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the effectiveness of the learning environment for supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution.”

8. QEP “An opportunity for the institution to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue the institution considers important to improving student learning”

9. QEP A carefully designed and focused course of action

10. QEP Addressing a well-defined topic of issue

11. QEP An emphasis on enhancing student learning

12. QEP “Student learning may include changes in students’ knowledge, skills, behaviors, and/or values that may be attributable to the collegiate experience.”

13. QEP Requirements • Broad-based institutional participation in the identification of the topic or issue • Careful review of best practices related to the topic or issue • Allocation of sufficient resources – human and financial – to develop, implement and sustain the plan

14. QEP Requirements • Implementation strategies that include a clear timeline and assignment of responsibilities • A structure established for evaluating the extent to which the goals set for the plan are attained

15. SACS Core Requirement 2.12 The institution has developed an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan and demonstrates that the plan is part of an ongoing planning and evaluation process.

16. QEP Topics • FCCJ – • Increase the fall-to-fall retention rate of our college preparatory students; • Increase the success rates of college preparatory students; and, • Increase the program completion rate of college preparatory students.

17. QEP Topics • USF - Development of an undergraduate research program within the General Education Curriculum • Richland College – Assessment of student outcomes • Central Texas – Creating a culture that enhances student learning

18. QEP Topics • LSU - Enhancing Students’ Academic Experiences through Scholarly and Creative Activity • LSU at Shreveport - “enhancing student learning by improving advising.”

19. QEP Topics • Guilford Tech. CC - enhancing students’ employability skills • University of Alabama – active and collaborative learning in 1st year classes

20. Your role • For HCC to retain its SACS accreditation, your input into the development of the QEP and your knowledge of the chosen QEP are essential!