Quality Enhancement Plan

What is a QEP?

A Quality Enhancement Plan addresses an issue that is important to improving student learning and/or student success while fulfilling the institutional mission of UMO. A QEP is required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as part of an institution’s decennial reaffirmation of accreditation.  An institution’s QEP has:

1. a topic identified through its ongoing, comprehensive and evaluation processes
2. broad-based support of institutional constituencies
3. focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success
4. commits resources to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP
5. includes a plan to access achievement

Why is a QEP necessary?

The QEP is an integral part of the Institutional Planning and Effectiveness Section 7, Standard 7.2, developed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as part of the university’s decennial reaffirmation of accreditation process.

To learn more, visit the Principles of Accreditation.

Why was it chosen and what is the goal of the QEP?

Focus to Finish is a continuation of UMO’s first QEP, On the Write Track, which focused on three goals: establish a culture that values writing among students, devise intervention strategies that cause students to improve as writers, and provide a sufficient number of learning opportunities for students to improve as writers. It is also is an offshoot of the Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant to improve retention and graduation rates for traditional students. Both the initial QEP and the Title III grant were focused on our traditional student population. Focus to finish will mirror some of the primary goals and successes of the Title III grant as well as the On the Write Track initiative, and shift the focus to UMO’s adult undergraduate population. Ultimately, the goal for UMO’s QEP is to improve persistence, retention, and graduation rates of adult undergraduates across the span of the five-year study.  Adult education has been a central part of the UMO’s mission and we continue to look for opportunities to improve student learning outcomes and student success for this valued student segment.

What is my role in the QEP?

Everyone at the University of Mount Olive should be involved in support of the Quality Enhancement Plan! We invite you to learn more about our plan and participate in activities related to the QEP. Make sure to be on the lookout for QEP news and activities.

What are the QEP’s student learning outcomes?

Three student learning outcomes were developed to support our goal: [Adult] Students will be able to

• implement the writing process for complex writing projects,
• conduct academic research on a specified topic, and
• write academic arguments to support claims using valid reasoning and sufficient evidence.

What are some indirect methods of student support that will be accomplished through the QEP?

There will be several writing related faculty development sessions offered throughout the implementation of the QEP. Additionally, a subset of courses within Adult and Online programs will be redesigned by faculty utilizing the best practices of Quality Matters™. These strategies are indirect methods of student support as faculty development enhances faculty expertise to assist with the improvement of writing and intentional course design creates a consistent structure that accentuates alignment and student engagement in the virtual environment.

What are the QEP’s Interventions for Adult learners?

The QEP will provide adult learners with expanded support in the area of writing and research.

• Virtual Directed Self-Placement (DSP) will be introduced to assist adult learners in choosing the best composition class for their individual needs.
• Virtual Peer Writing Coaching sessions will be offered by coaches trained in specific theories and techniques to assist adult learners.
• Existing virtual library instruction services – research webinars, video tutorials, group and individual consultations, Lib Guides, etc. – will be leveraged to assist adult learners in improving their research skills.

How will the QEP be evaluated?

SACSCOC has facilitated an on-site committee, comprised up of volunteer peers from similar institutions. The on-site committee will review the Plan and then conduct a virtual site visit in March.  The team will conduct sessions with various members of the university community and provide feedback based upon their evaluation of the Plan.

What is SACSCOC?

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is an institutional accrediting body for degree-granting institutions of higher education. Every 10 years, the SACSCOC evaluates each accredited member institution, including UMO, on a variety of standards to reaffirm accreditation.

What is accreditation and why is it important?

Accreditation is a way to assure that an educational institution is offering a quality education. The process includes research-based evaluation of the institution’s resources, programs, services and policies.

The SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation can be found here, or by visiting their website.

Who should I contact if I still have questions about the QEP or want learn more about how I can get involved?

If you have questions about the QEP or if you are looking for additional ways you can be involved please contact: Lisa Nuesell lnuesell@umo.edu.