Universities, like many institutions, use lots of acronyms, which can sometimes be confusing. Warning–a few more are coming your way!
So what is a QEP?
QEP stands for Quality Enhancement Plan. As part of our accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) - which we reaffirm every ten years - UAH is tasked with developing an action plan that focuses on improving student learning outcomes (SLOs) and/or student success over a five year period. Our current QEP is “Collaborative Learning,” an action plan that has benefited our community in a variety of ways.
In 2016 we set up the Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) to provide for the implementation, assessment, and continued improvement of the QEP. The CLC eventually became the ETLC (Enhanced Teaching and Learning Center). Collaborative Learning is now firmly established as a successful component of our institutional culture. Developing a new QEP is our opportunity to set a new goal for our university.
So what is the process for developing a new QEP?
The Provost’s Office has formed committees made up of administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Collaborative Learning has taught us that working in teams and soliciting ideas and feedback from diverse groups and voices can lead to identifying what is truly important to our success as a learning institution. One of the first steps is soliciting pre-proposals from the campus community for the new QEP.
What happens with the pre-proposals?
After gathering these, we will identify a specific QEP topic that aligns with the university’s strategic plan, particularly to advance student success. This QEP should have broad support from the campus community, be financially supported by the university to ensure its success, as well as be measurable to see how successful it is. UAH has a vested interest in seeing the QEP become a successful reality.
What’s next?
Be on the lookout for updates and more resources on the QEP website, as well as QEP Workshops to educate campus community members about the QEP process. Until then, begin thinking of pre-proposal topics you’d like to share. Remember, we cannot create a successful QEP without the input of our campus community, so we welcome your ideas and efforts!
Best regards,
The QEP Development Committee
