Longwood University QEP QEP stands for Quality Enhancement Plan

Longwood University QEP

QEP stands for Quality Enhancement Plan.


It’s required by SACS in addition to the Compliance Certification as one of the components of the review process.

SACS describes it this way:


The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), submitted four to six weeksin advance of the on-site review by the Commission, is a documentdeveloped by the institution that (1) includes a process identifyingkey issues emerging from institutional assessment, (2) focuses onlearning outcomes and/or the environment supporting student learningand accomplishing the mission of the institution, (3) demonstratesinstitutional capability for the initiation, implementation, and completionof the QEP, (4) includes broad-based involvement of institutionalconstituencies in the development and proposed implementationof the QEP, and (5) identifies goals and a plan to assess theirachievement. The QEP should be focused and succinct (no morethan seventy-five pages of narrative text and no more than twenty-fivepages of supporting documentation or charts, graphs, and tables).


It’s the subject of Core Requirement 2.12: The institution has developed an acceptable Quality

Enhancement Plan (QEP) that includes an institutional process for identifying key issues emerging from institutional assessment and focuses on learning outcomes and/or the environment supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution. (Quality Enhancement Plan)

(Note: This requirement is not addressed by the institution in its Compliance Certification.)


And of Comprehensive Standard 3.3.2: The institution has developed a Quality Enhancement Plan that

(1) demonstrates institutional capability for the initiation, implementation, and completion of the QEP; (2) includes broad-based involvement of institutional constituencies in the development and proposed implementation of the QEP; and (3) identifies goals and a plan to assess their achievement. (Quality Enhancement Plan)

(Note: This requirement is not addressed by the institution in its Compliance Certification.)


What this means for us: The QEP is a forward-looking document

describing changes the university will implement to improve student learning outcomes in a particular area.

The topic is chosen after seeking ideas from across university constituencies and reviewing institutional assessment.


It is based on research in several ways: there should be assessment showing the student

learning outcomes addressed need improvement; the plans for improvement should be based on

published research on student learning; the plan must describe how the effectiveness of

proposed changes will be assessed.


While the entire institution must be involved in the development of the QEP, the QEP itself does not have to impact or involve the entire institution; it must however impact a “significant” group of students.

The plan should be focused. It should not be considered a way to fix every problem.

Funding to implement the plan must be incorporated into the university’s budget.

Documentation of the entire process is important.


Organization of topic selection and plan development:

QEP Topic Selection Committee, 2011-12Comprising members drawn broadly from the faculty and other areas on campus, this group will guide the university-wide process for choosing the topic of Longwood’s QEP and recommend proposals to the Leadership Team.


Member Unit

Cheryl Adkins College of Business & Economics

McRae Amoss Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences

Brenda Atkins President’s Office

Jennifer Capaldo Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences

Jackie Hall Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences

David Locascio College of Education and Human Services

Jake Milne Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences

Tracy Nelson Administration and Finance

Jamie Riley Student Affairs

Cathy Roy College of Education and Human Services

Mary Meade Saunders Academic Affairs

Nancy Shelton University Advancement

Susan Stinson Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences

Billy Tucker Information & Instructional Technology

Benjamin Tyree Student Government Association

Ling Whitworth Academic Affairs


QEP Development Committee, 2012-14

Comprising members drawn more narrowly from areas related to the selected topic, this group will define the student learning outcomes the QEP will address, conduct a literature review of sound practices in the area chosen, identify the actions to be implemented, establish the timeline for implementation, identify necessary resources, and develop the assessment plan.


Anticipated timelineFall 2011 (QEP Topic Selection Committee) Solicit suggestions in broad areas from all

constituencies and review university assessmentSpring 2012 Review and focus suggestions Research and narrow possible themes Present and seek feedback on a limited number of

possible themes Propose themes to SACS Leadership Team


Anticipated Timeline (continued)Fall 2012 (QEP Development Committee) Develop framework for QEP and define

student learning outcomes Determine key initiatives and research sound

practices Identify actions to be implemented Establish timeline for 2013-14


Anticipated timeline (continued)Spring 2013 Draft document outlining plan and seek approval for any

curricular changes, etc. Pilot project?Fall 2013 Finalize QEP document Pilot project?Spring 2014 Submit QEP for review six weeks prior to scheduled on-site visit

(i.e., January 15?) Undergo on-site review (the QEP is the main topic of interest for

the on-site review team)


Anticipated timeline (continued)Fall 2014 Receive reaffirmation of accreditation and approval

of QEP at SACS annual meetingSpring 2015 Begin implementation of planFall 2019 or 2020 SACS 5th year interim report Provide impact report to SACS (demonstrate how

QEP has affected student learning)


For more information: SACS Reaffirmation Handbook, pp. 37-49:

http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/Handbook%20for%20Institutions%20seeking%20reaffirmation.pdf

Summaries of recent QEPs:

http://www.sacscoc.org/2009TrackBQEPSummaries.asp

Documents

Longwood University QEP QEP stands for Quality Enhancement Plan