As part of the reaffirmation of accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Southeastern Technical College is in the process of developing a new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).
What is a Quality Enhancement Plan?
As described in Principle 7.2, the College must develop a QEP that (a) has a topic identified through its ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes; (b) has broad-based support of institutional constituencies; (c) focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success; (d) commits resources to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP; and (e) includes a plan to assess achievement.
In the initial stages of development, the College reviewed data from its ongoing comprehensive and evaluation processes and identified an issue with student learning that needs to be addressed. The QEP is an intervention to address the identified issue with student learning and an opportunity to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness.
Identification of Issue with Student Learning
Data analyzed from all institutional constituencies indicated that a gap in work ethics skills among students existed. Graduates are entering the economic workforce without the work ethics skills necessary for workforce success.
According to the literature review, behavioral change and development of new habits are more likely to occur when work ethics skills are introduced, developed, refined, practiced, and reinforced. The best instructional methods for teaching work ethics are active learning experiences that foster student engagement, practice, and reinforcement of the work ethics skills.
Focus of QEP
Based on quantified themes from institutional data, the QEP will focus on improving students’ communication skills, organizational skills, and productivity skills.
QEP Goal and Student Learning Outcomes
The overall goal of the QEP is to build students’ work ethics skills. The following student learning outcomes describe what students will be able to do as a result of the QEP implementation:
- Student Learning Outcome 1 – Communication
Students will use appropriate tone, demeanor, and words to exchange verbal and written information.
- Student Learning Outcome 2 – Organizational Skills
Students will manage time and resources effectively.
- Student Learning Outcome 3 – Productivity
Students will complete tasks accurately without effort.
Strategies to Accomplish the QEP
- Strategy 1
The College will redesign the work ethics curriculum to attain the three student learning outcomes. - Strategy 2
The College will obtain feedback from institutional constituencies such as students, employers, preceptors, and employees throughout the five-year implementation of the QEP. - Strategy 3
The College will commit resources to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP and to assess the overall effectiveness of the QEP.
