Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
What is a Quality Enhancement Plan?
A Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a key component of a college’s reaffirmation of accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). A QEP is a long-term, focused initiative designed to improve specific aspects of student learning and success. As part of the accreditation process, WCC is required to develop and implement a QEP that reflects institutional priorities and demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement.
What is CORE?
CORE: Career Opportunity, Resources, and Employability is Wayne Community College’s Quality Enhancement Plan. The overarching goal is for the college to design career services resources that will help students make the transition from their academic journey to their career. This goal was broken down into three main components: getting students to utilize career counseling, helping students connect with employers, and integrating employability skills into the curriculum.
The QEP committees, made up of diverse representation from across the college to include input from students, faculty, staff, and community members, utilized multiple data sources and examined the strengths and weaknesses of the college to determine the topic that will impact the most students across the campus. This year-long process led to three goals and their related student learning outcomes to drive the development and implementation of the QEP.
Goals and intended outcomes of the QEP
Goal 1: The college will develop comprehensive career counseling services.
- Students will be able to identify resources related to the career services department.
- Students will be able to identify key areas of interest as they relate to their intended career pathway.
- Graduates and current students will have the necessary tools to successfully pursue career opportunities.
Goal 2: The college will expand employer engagement and job placement opportunities.
- Graduates and current students will be able to directly connect with a diverse range of industries and potential employers.
- SLO 2.2 – Students who are in CTE programs will have opportunities to engage in hands-on experiences in their field of study.
Goal 3: The college will implement integrated career skills development across the curriculum.
- Students will experience career development within their academic program.
Evaluation of the QEP
A comprehensive evaluation plan will measure the impact of CORE and will guide decisions as the components of the plan are more fully implemented throughout the five-year process. Measurable outcomes will provide quantifiable evidence of progress toward achieving the goals of the QEP. The evaluation plan will focus on both student learning and on the effectiveness of the overall initiative. The plan is designed to be both comprehensive and flexible to allow for adjustments as data are used to determine what is working and what is not. The assessments results will be used to make continuous improvements to the action items in each QEP goal.
Because of its importance to student success, the QEP will be established as a college “strategic priority” allowing the evaluation plan results to be integrated into the College’s institutional effectiveness process. A detailed budget and timeline for implementing and sustaining CORE strategies was formulated in consultation with the WCC SACSCOC Leadership Team. A marketing timeline was also developed which will help the college keep its constituents aware of their role in the success of the program.