Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
Contact Information
Any questions, please contact the QEP Steering Committee Co-Chairs at
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Welcome
Welcome to the webpage for the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) 2026 Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). This page provides information about our QEP topic, "Transferrable Skills for the 21st Century," and explains what this initiative is all about. Please continue reading below to learn more!
QEP Introduction
We are thrilled to announce that after a thorough and collaborative selection process, "Transferrable Skills for the 21st Century" has been chosen as the focus of our QEP. This topic emerged as the top choice, reflecting our collective commitment to equipping UHD students with essential skills for success in today's dynamic world.
What is a QEP?
A Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) begins as a simple idea that evolves into a unifying purpose and goal for a university. After careful consideration and planning, the QEP topic is selected—in our case, "Transferable Skills for the 21st Century." This marks the start of our journey to develop and refine a comprehensive plan aimed at implementing and assessing targeted initiatives to enhance student learning across the university. Although the QEP is a required component for university accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), it also presents a unique opportunity to coordinate and strengthen educational experiences through strategic innovation across campus.
The QEP addresses a well-defined and focused topic or issue related to enhancing student learning and/or student success. The QEP (Standard 7.2) is to have five essential elements:
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Derived from institutional planning and evaluation processes;
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Has broad-based support of institutional constituencies;
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Focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success;
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Institution is committing and will continue to commit resources needed for the QEP to have a good chance of success; and
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Includes a plan to assess the level of that success.
SACSCOC defines the QEP as “an integral component of the reaffirmation of accreditation process and is derived from an institution’s ongoing comprehensive planning and evaluation processes. It reflects and affirms a commitment to enhancing overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue the institution considers essential to improving student learning outcomes and/or student success (Resource Manual for The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, p. 58).
Name | Role |
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Paul Fulbright | Faculty Representative, Marilyn Davies College of Business |
Travis Crone | Faculty Representative, College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
Dana Smith | Faculty Representative, College of Public Service |
Cesar Garza | Faculty Representative, College of Science and Technology |
Sam Weehunt | Library Representative, University Library |
Dr. David Ryden | AVP for Programming and Curriculum |
Dr. Tammis Thomas | First Year Seminar Director |
Dr. Poonam Gulati | Executive Director, Impact Learning Office |
Dr. Wendy Burns-Ardolino | Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
Dr. Tim Redl | Department of Mathematics (Co-Chair) |
Dr. Charlie Finch | Director, Strategic Initiatives and Projects, Student Success and Student Life |
Mikayel Yegiyan | Director, Institutional Data Analytics |
Michael Connelly | Assistant Vice President for Advising and Student Progression |
Stefany Records | Business Affairs Representative (Co-Chair) |
Hayden Bergman | Marketing and Communication Representative |
Veronica Costilla or designee | Student Government Association Representative |
TBD | Graduate Student Representative |
Date | Agenda | Minutes |
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December 19, 2023 | Meeting Agenda | Minutes |
January 12, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | Minutes |
January 26, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | Minutes |
February 12, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | Minutes |
February 23, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | Minutes |
March 1, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | Minutes |
Resources
Link to evaluation rubric: Quality Enhancement Plan Framework Link to QEP Examples (UHD’s most recent QEP is listed under 2016, Track B).
Learn More: SASCOC Seeking Reaffirmation Handbook (2020)