A two-phase selection process is being employed to identify the next Quality Enhancement Plan topic.

Phase 1

A broad solicitation of ideas will occur during the month of September and into mid-October. Using the template provided on this website (link), individuals or groups will be invited to suggest an appropriate topic(s) each to provide the following information:

1. What the proposed topic is designed to address and what it is intended to achieve.
2. The topic’s relationship to the university’s mission and to the university strategic plan.
3. What university student learning outcomes or general education competencies the topic will address.

The QEP Selection Committee will review all the suggestions received during the last two weeks of October. The topics will be reviewed against the three criteria above and whether or not the topic has a broad base of support across the university. At its discretion, the committee may recommend one or more ideas be combined into another topic. The committee will recommend no more than four suggested topics be advanced to develop more complete proposals for consideration in the second phase of the selection process. The committee will determine who will be invited to submit the more detailed phase 2 proposal based upon the nature of the topic and the willingness of the individual(s) to complete the work by the specified deadline.

Phase 2

In this phase of the selection process, a more detailed yet concise description (no more than 4-5 pages) of the proposed QEP topic will be developed for submission. The criteria to be addressed will include the following:

• The use of institutional data/assessment in development of the proposed topic.
• How the proposed topic will make a significant contribution to student academic success and achievement of student learning outcomes.
• A description of the resources that will be needed to implement the proposed topic and their likely return on the institution’s investment .
• The likelihood of project goals being achieved within four years of implementation.
• The proposed topic’s links to institutional mission and the goals of the university strategic plan.
• The potential for assessment of project goals through quantitative and/or qualitative measures.
• The magnitude of support within the university community for implementation of the proposed topic.

The deadline for the submission of these proposals will be January 13, 2012. The committee will review the proposals using the above criteria. The committee will make its recommendation of two potential topics to the Provost no later than the end of February. A final decision on the choice of a topic will occur in March 2012.

Phase 2 will culminate with the selection of a new QEP topic and the naming of a team in April 2012 to develop a full QEP proposal for implementation during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years.