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Information for Faculty & Staff

What is a QEP?

A Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a focused effort to address a current problem facing students. This is a requirement of the College’s 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation by SACSCOC.

What is the QEP title?

QueST – Quality e-Learning for Students and Teachers

What is the QEP about?

QueST focuses on improving student success and retention in asynchronous online courses. In addition to taking measures to ensure students have the technological skills and soft skills to complete online courses with a grade of C or higher, FSCJ’s QEP will also support faculty development in designing and delivering engaging and culturally responsive online courses.

How was this topic selected?

The topic of the QEP was determined through a multi-step process that involved a broad cross-section of faculty, staff and students.


An integral part of the SACSCOC reaffirmation process, the QEP is derived from our ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes. Our QEP will include the following components as prescribed in the SACSCOC Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation (Standard 7.2):

  1. A topic identified through our ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes
    1. The topic will focus on a course of action informed by data and our comprehensive planning process that focuses on improving student success and/or student learning outcomes. The topic will support the mission of the institution.
  2. Broad-based support of institutional constituencies
    1. All College stakeholders, including students, will have the opportunity to guide the selection and implementation of the QEP topic.
  3. Focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success
    1. Student learning outcomes are those that identify the specific knowledge, skills, behaviors and/or attitudes/values student should be able to demonstrate.
  4. Commits resources to initiate, implement and complete the QEP
    1. Resources are not limited to budget dollars and should include consideration of the following: human resources, operating expenses, physical resources, assessment tools, faculty and/or staff development, etc.
  5. Includes a plan to assess achievement
    1. The expectation is to create a plan that identifies meaningful data to measure student learning outcomes. The plan should include timelines, multiple and varied measures and an explanation of the system used to collect, process and report the data.

Timeline: January 2022

Create a representative leadership team including faculty, staff, administrators and students.

QEP Exploratory Team Members

Karen Acevedo, QEP Director

Annette Barrineau, Dean of Business

Amy Baskin, Professor, Communications

Lanh Bloodworth, Professor, Natural Sciences

Dr. Douglas Brauer, Dean of Engineering Technology & Industry

Lisa Ciardulli, Accreditation Coordinator

Dr. Jerrett Dumouchel, AVP, Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Deborah Fontaine, VP, Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Jeff Hess, Dean of Communication

Dr. Sheri Litt, Associate Provost, BCTE

Donna Martin, Executive Director, Nassau Center

Tom Messner, Executive Dean, Library Services

Dr. Ian Neuhard, Associate Provost, Liberal Arts & Sciences

Robin Price, Student

Barbara Schaefer, Program Manager

Dr. Ed Stringer, Dean of Mathematics

Dr. Jacquelyn Thompson, AVP Enrollment Management

Breana White, Student

Timeline: February 2022-June 2022

In this step, the QEP Exploratory Team will begin the process of identifying the QEP topic and the potential resources required for development. Topics will be collected through the following processes, resources and data:

  • QEP workshops that introduce the QEP process and guidelines to the FSCJ community
  • Internal student success data
  • Surveys (Institutional Effectiveness, Student Climate, CLNA, etc.)
  • Focus groups (students, faculty, staff, administrators)
  • Topic research (beginning of literature review supported by the LLC)
  • Topic feasibility study (budget, human resources, physical resources, etc.)
  • Ability to development and measure meaningful outcomes to improve student success
  • Recommend topics to President’s Executive Leadership Team

Timeline: Summer-Fall 2023

Once the topic and its feasibility are approved by the President’s Executive Leadership Team, the development of the actual plan begins. A QEP Implementation Team will be formed with membership aligned to the expertise required by the selected topic. Team makeup will continue to be representative of the College community. The formal plan will include a summary of the topic identification process, relevant research on the topic and the student learning outcomes and/or student success goals. The following sub-committees will be formed to complete the QEP Development:

  • Literature Review Sub-Committee
  • Instructional and Student Services Sub-Committee
  • Professional Development Sub-Committee
  • Assessment Plan Sub-Committee
  • Budget Sub-Committee
  • Marketing/Communication Sub-Committee

Tasks will include the following:

  • An appropriate timeline for implementation
  • A framework, including objectives and measures for each outcome, deliverables, necessary budgets, etc.
  • A comprehensive assessment plan to measure improvements in student learning and/or student success
  • Baseline values for all assessment measures
  • Determine a comprehensive system for data collection and analysis
  • A marketing plan to ensure that the FSCJ community is aware of the QEP, its importance and its progress
  • Identifying a consultant and review feedback prior to implementing pilot project

Subcommittees


QEP Implementation Team
Co-Chairs: 
Dr. Audrey Antee, Director for the Academy of Teaching and Learning
Dr. Marc Boese, Executive Director of Organizational Development
Dr. Deborah Fontaine, VP, Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness
Members, in alphabetical order:
Karen Acevedo, QEP Director
Ujjwal Chakraborty, Dean of FSCJ Online
Dr. Kathleen Ciez-Volz, Associate Provost, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Shannon Groff, Program Manager, Department of Education and Human Services
Elijawa Faison, FSCJ Student
Lauren Finch, Campus Director for Student Services
Dr. Deborah Fontaine, VP, Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness
Jill Johnson, Chief Communications Officer
Shakura Jackson, Student Recruiter
Dr. Piti Golf Kanjanapongpaisal, Director of the Center for eLearning
Dr. Doug Kines, Professor of Biological Sciences
Dr. Barbara Moyer, Training and Development Coordinator
Dr. Susan Mythen, Dean of Library and Tutoring Services
Dr. Monica Parker, Professor of Biological Sciences

 

Literature Review Subcommittee
Co-Chairs: 
Dr. Audrey Antee, Professor, English
Dr. Susan Mythen, Dean of Library and Tutoring Services
Members:
Theresa Dyer-Kramer, Professor, Nursing
Dr. Susan Slavicz, Professor, English
Amber Strickland, Faculty Librarian and Professor of Student Life Skills

 

Instructional and Student Services Sub-Committee
Soft Skills Team Members
Dr. Maria Oehler, Professor, Biological Sciences
Stephanie Castro, Student Success Advisor II
Tasha Jones, Student Success Advisor II
Derrick Johnson, Ombudsman
Martha Henderson, Student Success Advisor I
Ashley Butler, Academic and Career Advisor
Technology and Digital Literacy Team Members
Dr. Audrey Antee, Director for the Academy of Teaching and Learning
Dr. Rebecca Ford, Professor, Human Services
Denise Giarrusso, Associate Director of Student Success
Brandi Bleak, Assistant Director Educational Technology
Inez Whipple, E-Learning Instructional Designer
Canvas Essentials Team Members
Brandi Bleak, Assistant Director Educational Technology
Dr. Shannon Groff, Program Manager, Department of Education and Human Services
Dr. Anšá Reams-Johnson, Director E-Admin and Support Services

 

Professional Development Subcommittee
Chair:
Dr. Barbara Moyer, Training and Development Coordinator
Members:
Dr. Audrey Antee, Director for the Academy of Teaching and Learning
Dr. Marc Boese, Executive Director of Organizational Development
Dr. Ujjwal Chakraborty, Dean, FSCJ Online
Dr. Kim Fahlgren, Professor, Occupation Therapy
Dr. Jill Hagenberger, e-Learning Instructional Designer
Dr. Piti Golf Kanjanapongpaisal, Director, Center for e-Learning
Dr. Dianne McAuliffe, Professor, Physical Therapy
Martha McNulty, Director, Online Academic Strategy

 

Assessment Plan Subcommittee
Co-Chairs:
Karen Acevedo, QEP Director
Marilyn Painter, Professor, English
Members:
Dr. Audrey Antee, Director for the Academy of Teaching and Learning
Brandi Bleak, Assistant Director Educational Technology
Dr. Marc Boese, Executive Director of Organizational Development
Dr. Ujjwal Chakraborty, Dean, FSCJ Online
Dr. Deborah Fontaine, AVP, Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Shannon Groff, Program Manager, Department of Education and Human Services
Sebena Masline, Professor
Dr. Maria Oehler, Professor
Dr. Monica Parker, Professor of Biological Sciences
Dr. Anšá Reams-Johnson, Director E-Admin and Support Services
Inez Whipple, E-Learning Instructional Designer

 

Communications Subcommittee
Chair:
Jill Johnson, Chief Communications Officer
Members:
Dr. Marc Boese, Executive Director of Organizational Development
Amanda Burgess, Assistant Director of Communications

 

Budget Subcommittee
Chair:
Dr. Wanda Ford, VP, Finance and Administration
Members:
Dr. Marc Boese, Executive Director of Organizational Development
Dr. Deborah Fontaine, VP, Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness

 

Timeline: Spring 2023-Fall 2023

After the QEP is approved internally and reviewed by the consultant, a pilot implementation will be developed. Action will include:

  • Modifying the proposed QEP based on suggestions from the consultant
  • Select faculty, staff and students to serve on various QEP committees
  • Identify and develop materials to implement pilot project to improve student performance for QEP learning outcomes and/or student success goals
  • Prepare the QEP for submission to SACSCOC off-site committee report and finalize entire QEP for submission to the SACSCOC on-site committee at least six weeks prior to the visit
  • Continue pilot of new QEP initiative

Timeline: Fall 2024 and forward

After final SACSCOC approval, the full implementation will begin immediately and will include the following:

  • Activating the various QEP committees to track, assess and implement the QEP according to the established implementation timeline
  • Continue to communicate QEP progress to FSCJ community in accordance the QEP communication plan

What are the intended goals and outcomes of the QEP?

  1. Increase productive grade rates in online courses
  2. Reduce withdrawal rates in online courses
  1. Identify behaviors required to be successful in online courses.
  2. Use peer-to-peer collaborative resources in online courses.
  3. Increase satisfaction in online courses.
  1. Construct online courses that promote regular and substantive instructor interaction.
  2. Incorporate culturally responsive practices in online courses.
  3. Develop a course that meets the criteria for a quality online course outlined in the FSCJ Online Course Rubric.

Contact Information:

Karen Acevedo, Director, Quality Enhancement Plan
(904) 632-3283

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