The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) addresses student learning and institutional effectiveness. The ultimate goal of FGCU’s Quality Enhancement Plan is to improve student learning in two of the university’s Undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes, specifically #3 “An Ecological Perspective” and #9 “Community Awareness and Involvement” by employing teaching and learning strategies that emphasize experiential learning, scholarly dialogue, and interdisciplinary engagement. The QEP provides an opportunity to systematically evaluate student learning in these areas and to develop strategies to refine curriculum and enhance student learning as part of an on-going plan of continuous improvement. The plan was developed with campus-wide input and its success depends on continued input from all parties with a vested interest in the quality of education at FGCU.
The topic of improving student learning in these two areas was selected because it reflects the university’s mission statement, accreditation criteria, and the priorities of faculty, administrators, and the academic community. The plan has broad university support; reflects the interests of the entire academic community and beyond; is consistent with the university’s Guiding Principles, which are deeply embedded in the institution’s culture; is congruent with the university’s mission and strategic plan; provides opportunities to incorporate evidence-based practice into successful student learning activities and educational processes that are already in place; and provides a framework for addressing goals and outcomes in multiple settings. In addition, the QEP is forward-looking in that it will focus attention on how a new institution with a unique mission can maintain and improve quality as it grows and matures.
