CNU SACS Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
What is a QEP?
A Quality Enhancement Plan ( QEP ) is a long range plan developed by
an institution that describes a course of action for institutional
improvement crucial to enhancing educational quality that is directly
related to student learning. The selected topic should be focused with
clear goals along with planning as to how the objectives will be
evaluated. It is essential that the QEP have broad-based university
participation in the selection of the topic and be accepted by the
university community as having significant value for the university in
enhancing student learning.
Why is a QEP Important?
The concept of quality enhancement is at the heart of Southern
Association of College and Schools (SACS), the regional accrediting
body for Christopher Newport University, philosophy of accreditation.
Therefore, SACS requires, as part of its ten-year re-affirmation of
accreditation process, the creation of a Quality Enhancement Plan.
The purpose of a QEP is to enhance overall institutional quality and
effectiveness by focusing one or more issues the university considers
important to improving student learning.
QEP Topic Selection at CNU:
Click here for insight and details into the selection of a QEP topic for CNU.
QEP Topic Selected:
First Year Seminars - The re-affirmation process requires development
of a QEP to enhance student learning. The CNU Community via the
QEP Task Force and QEP Leadership Committee selected "Enhancing Critical
Thinking Through First-Year Seminars" as its QEP topic. First-Year Seminars
(FYSM) require every first- year student to take one of 63 theme-based courses
that is designed to emphasize critical thinking along with other foundational
disciplines at the core of liberal learning. A course is 3 credit hours and is limited
to 19 students in each section.
Executive Summary:
Click here for a summary of CNU's QEP.
QEP Timeline and Assessment Schedule:
Major Milestones |
From |
To |
Key Participants |
| QEP Leadership Orientation |
June 2005 |
June 2005 |
SACS, CNU SACS Leadership Team |
| Assemble QEP Task Force |
Feb 2005 |
July 2005 |
CNU, SACS Leadership Team |
| Petition CNU Community for Topics |
Jan 2005 |
July 2005 |
CNU SACS Leadership Team |
| QEP Topics Selection |
Sept 2005 |
Sept 2005 |
QEP Task Force |
| QEP Development |
Sept 2005 |
Jan 2007 |
QEP Leadership Committee |
| QEP Submission |
Jan 2007 |
Jan 2007 |
Associate Provost |
| SACS On-Site Review |
Mar 19, 2007 |
Mar 21, 2007 |
SACS, CNU |
| Planning/Pre-Implementation |
Feb 2007 |
Jul 2007 |
SACS, CNU |
| Plan Implementation |
Aug 2007 |
Ongoing |
CNU, QEP Leadership Committee |
| Assessment Implementation |
Aug 2007 |
Ongoing |
Assessment, Evalution & Accreditation |
| Five-Year QEP Report |
|
|
Assessment, Evaluation, and Accreditation /QEP Leadership Committee
|
QEP Intended Student Learning Outcome:
Students will grow as critical thinkers, particularly as a result of First-Year Seminars.
Item |
Description |
Component 1 |
Student will use the basic skills of logical reasoning in natural languages. |
Component 2 |
Student will analyze statements for consistency, implications, and contradictions. |
Component 3 |
Student will distinguish fact from inference and argument from other discourse. |
QEP Task Force:
This ad-hoc committee researched and selected a QEP topic from an initial
list of topics
generated by the CNU Community.
Name |
Department |
Email Address |
Carlson, Peter |
Government |
|
Davidson, Curtis |
Admissions |
|
Doris, Archer |
Library |
|
Harper, Veron |
Communication Studies |
vharper@cnu.edu |
Mathews, Cheryl |
Social Work |
|
Motilla, Donna |
Dean, School of Business |
|
Pappas, Steve |
Auxiliary Services |
|
Paul, Jay |
English |
|
Safko, Carol |
Academic Advising |
|
Sellars, Nigel |
History |
|
Siochi, Antonio |
Physics, Computer Science, and Engineering |
|
Tieman, Anita |
Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting |
|
Webb, Lisa |
Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science |
|
QEP Leadership Committee:
This standing committee will oversee QEP implementation and evaluation.
| Name |
Role |
Dept |
Email Address |
Dr. Keston Fulcher |
Co-Chair, QEP
Leadership
Committee
|
Office of Assessment,
Evaluation,
and Accreditation
|
keston.fulcher@cnu.edu |
Dr. William Connell |
Co-Chair, QEP
Leadership
Committee
|
History |
wconnell@cnu.edu |
Dr. Bobbye Bartels |
Assoc. Dean of
Liberal Learning
|
College of
Liberal Arts and
Sciences
|
bbartels@cnu.edu |
Dr. Costa Gerousis |
Chair, University Assessment and Evaluation Committee |
Physics,
Computer
Science, and
Engineering |
gerousis@cnu.edu |
Dr. Brian Bradie |
Representative for the Learning Council |
Mathematics |
bbradie@cnu.edu |
Dr. Robert Hasbrouck |
Assistant Professor
& Representative
of the School of
Business |
Management
and Marketing |
rhasbro@cnu.edu |
Dr. Jason Hart |
Assistant Professor
& Representative
of the College of
Liberal Arts and
Sciences |
Psychology |
jason.hart@cnu.edu |
Technical Requirements to View, Download, and/or Print QEP:
Viewing - The QEP is best viewed with a computer screen resolution
set to 1024 x 768 or greater. The Adobe Reader scroll bars should be
utilized to aid in moving thru document.
Printing - Note: The QEP is 70 pages in length. Highlight the link to
QEP document below. Right-click mouse selecting the option to "Print",
select a destination printer as needed. All pages of the QEP will be
printed.
Downloading - Right click on the QEP link below, select the option to
"Save As", browse to the location on hard-drive or storage media
where the document is to be saved, then click "OK". The document will
then be downloaded and saved.
CNU's QEP:
| CNU's QEP submitted to SACS January 2007 is now available for viewing at the limited access web page that follows
Click here to access CNU's QEP
( p a s s w or d p r o t e c t e d ) |
 |
QEP Questions:
Contact: Dr. Keston Fulcher, keston.fulcher@cnu.edu
QEP Links:
CNU SACS COC Compliance Certification Web Site
CNU SACS Project Status Web Page
SACS COC Web Site
SACS Principles of Accreditation
SACS Handbook on Reaffirmation of Accreditation
CNU Assessment, Evaluation, and Accreditation Web Site
CNU Liberal Learning
Last Updated: 11/12/2007
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