University narrows down topics for Quality Enhancement Plan

June 24, 2020 | UHCL Staff

Three key topics have been selected for further exploration in University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Quality Enhancement Plan. The three topics center around “Educational Achievement” and include “Attending to Changes in Education in the 21st Century – Hawks ACE,” “Literacies for Lifelong Learning,” and “Writing Across Disciplines.”

The Quality Enhancement Plan, known as the QEP, is the component of the accreditation process that reflects and affirms the university’s commitment of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to the enhancement of the quality of higher education and to the proposition that student learning is at the heart of the mission of all institutions of higher learning.

Earlier in the spring, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, which oversees the development of the QEP, requested topic submissions centered around themes in UH-Clear Lake’s Strategic Plan, “Impact 2025 and Beyond.” Themes include Educational Achievement, Inclusive Culture, Innovation through Collaboration and University Identity.

“We received a total of 22 Quality Enhancement Plan topic suggestions from the campus community,” explained Executive Director of Planning and Assessments Pat Cuchens. “From that, the topic selection committee narrowed it down to three topics, which will be developed into full proposals and presented to the campus community.”

Cuchens added that the deadline for the fully developed topic proposals is Aug. 21. Those who developed the topics include the following:

• “Educational Achievement – Attending to Changes in Education in the 21st Century – Hawks ACE” was submitted by Associate Professor of Social Work Heather Kanenberg, Associate Professor of Psychology Beth Hentges, Associate Professor of Psychology Amanda Johnston, Professor of Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Studies Christine Kovic and Associate Professor of Humanities Shreerekha Subramanian.
• “Educational Achievement -- Literacies for Lifelong Learning” was submitted by Professor of Psychology and Center for Faculty Development Director Robert Bartsch.
• “Educational Achievement – Writing Across the Disciplines” was submitted by Assistant Professor of Writing Lorie Jacobs.

“It was evident from the topics submitted, that a great deal of thought went into them. The committee first used a rubric to score the topics then met virtually to discuss them,” said Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Kathryn Matthew. “To ensure that every committee member had an opportunity to participate in the discussions, three different meetings were held. The committee deliberated and discussed all of the submissions before selecting these three.”

After the three topic proposals are fully developed, reviewed and disseminated to the campus community, all will be asked to review and vote. Results from the voting, which will end on Nov. 1, will be presented to UHCL President Ira K. Blake as recommendations. The final decision on the topic will be announced shortly thereafter to the campus community

Find out more about the QEP online, or call the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, 281-283-3005.