February 2024
February 28, 2024
Please take a few moments to provide your feedback on the QEP finalist presentations. Your thoughts will help W&M present an engaging, effective, and sustainable QEP to SACSCOC during our decennial reaffirmation of accreditation.
Click here to complete your evaluations of the presentations. Please note that evaluations will remain accessible through Monday, 3/4.
If you were unable to attend any or all of the presentations, you may access the recording here. You may also view the presentation summaries and slides below.
The topic finalist presentations are:
“A sustainability learning objective: equipping the next generation of leaders with a framework for the interdependent flourishing of the individual, the environment, and society.” Dr. Jim Kaste, Lead Proposal Champion
“Applied Scholars: A Cohort Based, Experiential Learning Opportunity.” Dr. Michael Tierney, Lead Proposal Champion
“Applied Learning for All.” Dr. Elizabeth Harbron, Lead Proposal Champion
On Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM, presentations on each of the three QEP topic finalists will be live-streamed via Zoom and may be viewed using this link: https://cwm.zoom.us/j/94570658873. All are welcome to join.
Topic submissions from groups of faculty and staff were received in October 2023 and were evaluated by the Executive Leadership Team and the Reaffirmation Leadership Team for alignment with Vision 2026 and the SACSCOC QEP Evaluation Rubric.
The topics identified as finalists are:
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January 2024
As an accredited institution, W&M completes a reaffirmation of accreditation process every 10 years. Part of that process includes developing a five-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) initiative focused on improving student learning outcomes and/or student success.
Thanks to the faculty and staff who submitted topic proposals for the QEP in October. Those submissions were evaluated by the Executive Leadership Team and the Reaffirmation Leadership Team for alignment with Vision 2026 and the SACSCOC QEP Evaluation Rubric. Three finalists were selected:
- “A sustainability learning objective: equipping the next generation of leaders with a framework for the interdependent flourishing of the individual, the environment, and society.” Dr. Jim Kaste, Lead Proposal Champion
- “Applied Scholars: A Cohort Based, Experiential Learning Opportunity.” Dr. Michael Tierney, Lead Proposal Champion
- “Applied Learning for All.” Dr. Elizabeth Harbron, Lead Proposal Champion
Finalists will present their topics to the campus community via Zoom on Thursday, February 22, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. Please mark your calendars. A Zoom link will be announced as the event draws near. Please watch the W&M Digest for updates and visit the QEP website
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September 2023
What is a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)?
The QEP is a five-year initiative that focuses on improving student learning and/or success. A well-developed QEP is required in order to remain accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC accredits degree-granting institutions of higher education institutions in 11 southern states, from Texas to Florida and north to Virginia.
Developing and successfully executing a QEP is a required component of our reaffirmation of accreditation with SACSCOC, which occurs once every 10 years.
What are the requirements of a QEP?
The QEP must be a project that:
- enhances student learning and/or student success;
- supports and connects to the mission of the university;
- has broad-based institutional support;
- includes a commitment of appropriate resources;
- has a plan for assessment.
The QEP may outline a new initiative, or it may focus on something else that is already underway at the university.
The QEP must be connected to W&M’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and there must be measurable baseline data that informs the development of the plan. Proposals will be evaluated for their connection to Vision 2026 and their likelihood of demonstrating compliance with all elements of the SACSCOC QEP rubric.
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What should be included in topic proposals?
A proposal should be fairly brief (no more than two pages, excluding cover page and references) and should address each of the Components of a QEP Proposal identified below.
When developing ideas for a QEP topic proposal, it may be useful to think about W&M’s strengths and characteristics as an institution. Think about interdisciplinary/cross-curricular initiatives, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Consider ways in which a topic proposal would support our mission statement by inspiring lifelong learning, generating new knowledge, expanding understanding, and cultivating creative thinkers, principled leaders, and compassionate global citizens
Please note that at this point, we do not need a full proposal, but any viable topic should provide some basic information relating to each of the following components.
Components of a QEP Topic Proposal
- Topic: Describe your Quality Enhancement Plan topic. Give your proposed topic a descriptive title that stands out and generates enthusiasm. What is the single, overarching goal of this QEP topic? How does it connect to and support W&M’s mission and strategic plan?
- Who: Which student populations within our university community will the QEP impact?
- How: The QEP must improve student outcomes and/or student success. Describe the ways that your proposal will do so.
- Relevance: What existing institutional data supports your proposal? Is any additional data needed in order to make a case for this project to be considered viable? You may find useful and relevant data on the Institutional Research website in the Fact Book or through Qlik.
- Proposal Champions: What faculty, staff, and students are supportive of this proposal? (We expect a team of at least three champions for any viable topic.) Please give your name, title, and email address, identifying yourself as the topic proposal’s Lead Champion. Please list the names, titles, and email addresses for at least two other champions of your proposal.
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How do I develop & submit my proposal?
Click here to download the Proposal Template.
We strongly recommend developing your proposal within this template. You will use the information in your prepared Word template to copy and paste into Qualtrics. You will not have an option to upload documents into the Qualtrics form.
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Reaffirmation Leadership Team (RLT)
The RLT is a working group established to provide leadership during the reaffirmation effort.
The members of the RLT are:
- Alana Davis, Associate Provost & University Registrar
- Pamela Eddy, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs & Development
- Jeremy Martin, Vice President for Strategy & Innovation
- Anna Mroch, Director of Student Affairs Strategic Planning and Assessment and Interim-Associate Vice President (AVP) for Student Engagement and Leadership
- Suzanne Rait, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
- Matthew Smith, Assistant Provost for Institutional Accreditation & Effectiveness
- David Yalof, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
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