WHAT IS A QEP?

The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is part of a two-pronged approach to reaffirmation.  The Compliance Certification is the other part and it focuses on the past and the present.  The QEP, however, focuses on the future.  The QEP is a Core Requirement (2.12).  An excerpt from The Handbook for Reaffirmation of Accreditation (2008) states "compliance with the Core Requirements is essential for gaining and maintaining accreditation" (p.4).  The following is an excerpt from the Handbook regarding the QEP.

The QEP describes a carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a well-defined topic or issue(s) related to enhancing student learning. Developing a QEP as part of the reaffirmation process is an opportunity and an impetus for the institution to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue the institution considers important to improving student learning.  Core Requirement 2.12 requires an institution to have a plan for increasing the effectiveness of some aspect of its educational program relating to student learning.  The plan launches a process that can move the institution into a future characterized by creative, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences for students.