The ABCs of the QEP
Aug 18, 2011
Edison State College is sharing the ABCs of its new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) initiative during the annual Convocation for all Edison faculty and staff today.
“Part of our SACS accreditation process includes what we can do to continue serving our students and offering them the best possible educational experience,” said Kathy Clark, professor of economics and Co-Chair of the QEP Committee. “After extensive research and the input of over 120 faculty and staff, we are focusing on developing and implementing tools to further increase student success, with a focus on those entering college for the first time.”
The program, called The Cornerstone Experience, revolves around four points: critical thinking, applied learning, relevancy and success strategies. Together, these skills, which form the foundation for the course, give students added tools for academic success.
The keynote speaker for Edison State College’s annual Convocation is John N. Gardner. He serves as the President of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, which he co-founded in 1999. These standards are known as “Foundational Dimensions”®in a process called Foundations of Excellence® in the First College Year or Foundations of Excellence® – Transfer Focus
The process to develop this first year experience for Edison State College students began in November 2008 by forming a QEP Planning Committee and then administering a student engagement survey. On April 16, 2010, a combined QEP committee and Foundations of Excellence® committee narrowed the QEP focus to a customized version of the first-year experience course, which addresses the needs of increasingly diverse, first-time college students, many of whom are underprepared.
“We are now asking for even more input from the Edison State College community in preparation for submission to SACS,” said Dr. Thomas Rath, academic dean and co-chair of the QEP Committee.
The Cornerstone Experience course will launch in the spring 2012 semester and be required for all degree-seeking students testing into two or more developmental courses.
Additional information about The Cornerstone Experience can be found on the Edison State College website at: http://www.edison.edu/accreditation/qep/summary.php
Last Updated: August 18, 2011
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