The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is the component of the accreditation process that reflects and affirms that student learning is at the heart of the institution's mission. It must describe a carefully designed course of action that addresses a well-defined and focused topic or issue related to enhancing student learning and it must be embedded within the institution's ongoing planning and evaluation process.

Virginia Tech's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focuses on first year experiences. The intent is to engage students through first-year experiences that provide curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities designed to foster their abilities to

• problem solve,
• explore and use information appropriately and effectively, and
• integrate ideas and experiences and apply them to new learning situation within and beyond campus.

   

These intellectual and practical skills are foundational to students' development into lifelong learners. Each first-year experience will include meaningful curricular and co-curricular opportunities for students to develop their problem-solving, inquiry, and integrative learning skills in a technologically-rich environment.

The QEP looks to the future.

It is an opportunity for the institution to focus on an issue or issues the institution considers important to improving student learning, a way to move the institution forward. It requires institutional commitment, a robust assessment plan, and high potential for sustainability..

What's next for the QEP?

The Virginia Tech Office of First Year Experiences (directed by Dr. Mary Ann Lewis) is furthering the development of the QEP, including the completion of the document to be submitted to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Upon approval from SACS, she will lead the campus wide implementation of Virginia Tech's First Year Experiences.