An Examination of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges' Quality Enhancement Plans at Two Institutions Through the Lens of Quality Improvement

An Examination of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges' Quality Enhancement Plans at Two Institutions Through the Lens of Quality Improvement PDF Author: Barbara June Rodriguez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational evaluation
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
The purpose of this case study was to explore the quality enhancement plan (QEP) process and its influence on student learning of critical thinking and the institutional environment from the perspective of key stakeholders at two community colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (the Commission). Key stakeholders were defined as faculty, staff, and administrators who had direct and continuous involvement with the development and/or implementation of the QEP. This was accomplished through document reviews and analysis of interviews. The study was guided by intertwined quality assurance systems - accountability, accreditation, and assessment, and six of Deming's (1986) total quality management principles. These principles are: (1) customer, (2) training and development, (3) teamwork, (4) measurement, (5) improvement, and (6) leadership (Bosner, 1992; Deming, 1986; Marchese, 1991; Sallis, 2002). v i The study suggests that as a result of accountability from multiple entities, quality in higher education and how the definition of quality includes student learning assessment, continues to be important to the Commission. The QEP process was developed to assist institutions with educational quality and improving effectiveness. Based on the study findings, the QEP process can have a positive influence on student learning of critical thinking and result in constructive and effective changes for an institution. The study also reveals the current QEP process could benefit from incorporating the strategy of identifying both internal and external direct measures of student learning within the QEP assessment plan and the Commission including a use assessment results section as a requirement for the QEP Impact Report. The study confirms the importance of accountability, accreditation, and assessment, but the six TQM principles are not as significant as anticipated. Instead of all six principles surfacing as themes at the two public community colleges, teamwork was the only common theme. However, there was evidence of all six TQM principles at each college. Recommendations for the Commission, institutions of higher education, and recommendations for future research are presented.

An Examination of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges' Quality Enhancement Plans at Two Institutions Through the Lens of Quality Improvement

An Examination of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges' Quality Enhancement Plans at Two Institutions Through the Lens of Quality Improvement PDF Author: Barbara June Rodriguez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational evaluation
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
The purpose of this case study was to explore the quality enhancement plan (QEP) process and its influence on student learning of critical thinking and the institutional environment from the perspective of key stakeholders at two community colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (the Commission). Key stakeholders were defined as faculty, staff, and administrators who had direct and continuous involvement with the development and/or implementation of the QEP. This was accomplished through document reviews and analysis of interviews. The study was guided by intertwined quality assurance systems - accountability, accreditation, and assessment, and six of Deming's (1986) total quality management principles. These principles are: (1) customer, (2) training and development, (3) teamwork, (4) measurement, (5) improvement, and (6) leadership (Bosner, 1992; Deming, 1986; Marchese, 1991; Sallis, 2002). v i The study suggests that as a result of accountability from multiple entities, quality in higher education and how the definition of quality includes student learning assessment, continues to be important to the Commission. The QEP process was developed to assist institutions with educational quality and improving effectiveness. Based on the study findings, the QEP process can have a positive influence on student learning of critical thinking and result in constructive and effective changes for an institution. The study also reveals the current QEP process could benefit from incorporating the strategy of identifying both internal and external direct measures of student learning within the QEP assessment plan and the Commission including a use assessment results section as a requirement for the QEP Impact Report. The study confirms the importance of accountability, accreditation, and assessment, but the six TQM principles are not as significant as anticipated. Instead of all six principles surfacing as themes at the two public community colleges, teamwork was the only common theme. However, there was evidence of all six TQM principles at each college. Recommendations for the Commission, institutions of higher education, and recommendations for future research are presented.

Making Global Learning Universal

Making Global Learning Universal PDF Author: Hilary Landorf
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000980677
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 281

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Book Description
Co-published with While there is wide consensus in higher education that global learning is essential for all students’ success, there are few models of how to achieve this goal. The authors of this book, all of whom are from one of the nation’s largest and most diverse research universities, provide such a model and, in doing so, offer readers a broad definition of global learning that both encompasses a wide variety of modes and experiences—in-person, online, and in co-curricular activities at home and abroad—and engages all students on campus. They provide a replicable set of strategies that embed global learning throughout the curriculum and facilitate high quality, high-impact global learning for all students.The approach this book describes is based upon three principles: that global learning is a process to be experienced, not a thing to be produced; that it requires all students’ participation—particularly the underrepresented—and cannot succeed if reserved for a select few; and that global learning involves more than mastery of a particular body of knowledge. The authors conceptualize global learning as the process of diverse people collaboratively analyzing and addressing complex problems that transcend borders of all kinds. They demonstrate how institutions can enable all students to determine relationships among diverse perspectives on problems and develop equitable, sustainable solutions for the world’s interconnected human and natural communities. What’s more, they describe how a leadership process—collective impact—can enable all stakeholders across departments and disciplines to align and integrate universal global learning throughout the institution and achieve the aims of inclusive excellence.Providing examples of practice, this book:• Offers a model to make global learning universal;• Provides a definition of global learning that incorporates diversity, collaboration, and problem solving as essential components; • Describes effective leadership for implementation consistent with the attributes of global learning;• Illustrates integrative, high-impact global learning strategies within the access pipeline, students’ coursework, and co-curricular activities; • Offers practical strategies for global learning professional development, student learning assessment, and program evaluation;• Promotes inclusive excellence through universal global learning.

Wise Writes

Wise Writes PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Universities and colleges
Languages : en
Pages : 106

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Book Description


Quality Enhancement Plan

Quality Enhancement Plan PDF Author: University of Virginia's College at Wise
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Universities and colleges
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description


College Learning for the New Global Century

College Learning for the New Global Century PDF Author: Association of American Colleges and Universities
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
"College Learning for the New Global Century, published through the LEAP (Liberal Education and America's Promise) initiative, spells out the essential aims, learning outcomes, and guiding principles for a 21st century college education. It reports on the promises American society needs to make - and keep - to all who seek a college education and to the society that will depend on graduates' future leadership and capabilities." -- Foreword (p. vii).

Focused Report

Focused Report PDF Author: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Universities and colleges
Languages : en
Pages :

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High-impact Educational Practices

High-impact Educational Practices PDF Author: George D. Kuh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 50

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Book Description
This publication¿the latest report from AAC&U¿s Liberal Education and America¿s Promise (LEAP) initiative¿defines a set of educational practices that research has demonstrated have a significant impact on student success. Author George Kuh presents data from the National Survey of Student Engagement about these practices and explains why they benefit all students, but also seem to benefit underserved students even more than their more advantaged peers. The report also presents data that show definitively that underserved students are the least likely students, on average, to have access to these practices.

A Single Case Study of the Quality Enhancement Plan Component of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Accreditation Process: Identifying Influential Factors

A Single Case Study of the Quality Enhancement Plan Component of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Accreditation Process: Identifying Influential Factors PDF Author: Charmaine T. Cruise
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781109910513
Category : Universities and colleges
Languages : en
Pages : 278

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Book Description
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ratification of the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement signified a major shift in the process its member institutions undertake to become accredited. Core Requirement Twelve, the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), is a significant component of the revised accreditation process and an innovative catalyst for improving overall institutional quality and effectiveness. The QEP requires campuses to create a plan that focuses on significantly enhancing some aspect of student learning the campus considers important to the educational experience of its students. The general purpose of this study was to identify internal and external factors that influenced the QEP process of a public Level I Institution reaffirmed under the Commission on Colleges' revised standards. Research specifically focused on ascertaining and describing the factors from an institutional perspective. A qualitative methodology involving a single public two-year campus reaffirmed under the revised standards was used to address the line of inquiry employed in this study. Data for the study was obtained through in-depth interviews, document review, and an online questionnaire. The general approach to qualitative data analysis was predominantly guided by the Constant Comparison Method of data examination, which consists of recording, collecting, and comparing data of a social phenomenon across emerging categories. Concepts, themes, and patterns across the total range of interviews were classified, compared, and combined to present an institutional perspective regarding the factors perceived to have influenced the college's QEP. Data obtained from transcripts were corroborated using documents collected from the research setting and questionnaire responses. The major finding of the study was that the following 10 factors were perceived to have influenced the QEP process of a public Level I Institution: (a) project or initiative; (b) internal motivation; (c) external research; (d) internal research; (e) support from accrediting agency; (f) focus for the QEP; (g) found steering committee; (h) process strategies; (i) commitment of college leadership; and (j) reaffirmation review. Based on these findings, conclusions, and recommendations for practice and research are offered.

Completing College

Completing College PDF Author: Vincent Tinto
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226804526
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
Even as the number of students attending college has more than doubled in the past forty years, it is still the case that nearly half of all college students in the United States will not complete their degree within six years. It is clear that much remains to be done toward improving student success. For more than twenty years, Vincent Tinto’s pathbreaking book Leaving College has been recognized as the definitive resource on student retention in higher education. Now, with Completing College, Tinto offers administrators a coherent framework with which to develop and implement programs to promote completion. Deftly distilling an enormous amount of research, Tinto identifies the essential conditions enabling students to succeed and continue on within institutions. Especially during the early years, he shows that students thrive in settings that pair high expectations for success with structured academic, social, and financial support, provide frequent feedback and assessments of their performance, and promote their active involvement with other students and faculty. And while these conditions may be worked on and met at different institutional levels, Tinto points to the classroom as the center of student education and life, and therefore the primary target for institutional action. Improving retention rates continues to be among the most widely studied fields in higher education, and Completing College carefully synthesizes the latest research and, most importantly, translates it into practical steps that administrators can take to enhance student success.

Quality Improvement and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Quality Improvement and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill PDF Author: David C. Dubin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education, Higher
Languages : en
Pages : 138

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Book Description