Quality Enhancement Plan
Overview
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
Shaping Resilient Stingrays
In 2024, South University proudly unveiled its five-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) as part of its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation process. Titled “Shaping Resilient Stingrays,” this groundbreaking initiative embodies our unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and empowering students to thrive academically in the face of challenges.
The core essence of “Shaping Resilient Stingrays” reflects our mission to equip students with the tools and mindset needed to flourish university-wide. By emphasizing academic resilience, we aim to inspire students to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential. The initiative focuses on five essential competencies: self-care, purpose, mindfulness, positive relationships, and self-awareness.
A Comprehensive Approach to Building Resilience
Our innovative program seamlessly integrates resilience-building strategies into the UVC1000 first-year course, extending its impact throughout students’ academic journeys. Through engaging workshops, practical tools, program activities, and expert guest speakers sharing proven strategies, students gain invaluable skills to navigate life's academic challenges with confidence.
To create a dynamic and interactive experience, the initiative also features exciting contests and exclusive resilience-themed merchandise, ensuring students remain motivated and connected to the program's core values.
Beyond Accreditation: Transforming Campus Culture
“Shaping Resilient Stingrays” is more than an accreditation milestone—it’s a transformative journey to embed resilience into the fabric of South University’s culture. By fostering a thriving academic community, we empower our students to excel in academic success.
Through this initiative, South University is shaping a generation of resilient, successful individuals prepared to embrace the future with confidence and purpose. Together, we’re building a legacy of student success, one resilient Stingray at a time.
Let’s shape the future—together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)?
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. This is the accreditation body for South University.
To gain or maintain accreditation with SACSCOC, an institution must comply with the standards contained in the Principles of Accreditation and with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges. The SACSCOC accreditation process helps institutions of higher learning set and maintain high academic standards, foster public confidence in the institution’s academic value, and establish eligibility for certain grants and federal aid programs.
Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation is a quality assurance program to inform students, the public, and other stakeholders that South University has met thresholds of performance on established criteria. Accreditation is affirmed through periodic review by peer evaluator teams and is important to affirm academic excellence and high standards of an institution to the public.
What is reaffirmation of accreditation?
What is a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)?
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requires each university to have a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is a carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a well-defined topic or issue(s) that was selected after a close examination of data about the institution and the student experience.
Developing a QEP as part of South University’s reaffirmation process is an opportunity for our institution to enhance our overall institutional quality by proposing a project that we believe will improve student learning and success to accomplish the mission of South University.
How was the topic selected?
The topic of the QEP is determined through a multi-step process that involves a broad cross-section of the University’s faculty, staff, and students. The process began in the Fall of 2022 and was refined through a rigorous democratic process designed to ensure that the community within South University is supportive of the plan.
How will we know if the QEP is successful?
South University uses both indirect and direct measures, both qualitative and quantitative data, to assess the outcomes and benchmarks related to the overall plan and its goals where student success improvements are concerned. Our approach includes scheduled formative assessments, allowing us to adjust implementation activities, timelines and assessment instruments, as necessary. Three QEP committees, including Executive Steering Committee, Development and Implementation Committee, and Assessment Committee, comprised of University leaders and students evaluate information on a monthly basis to determine the effectiveness of the plan during the five-year duration to completion.
What if I have questions regarding South University’s QEP or SACSCOC accreditation?
If you have any further questions regarding South University’s QEP, please contact South University’s QEP Director, Dr. Mandy Hope at mhope@southuniversity.edu.
If you have any further questions regarding SACSCOC and their accreditation process, please visit their websitewww.sacscoc.org, email questions@sacscoc.org, or call (404) 679-4500.Mission & Goals
Our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) mission and goals play a vital role in the SACSCOC accreditation process, which upholds the quality and effectiveness of higher education institutions. Shaping Resilient Stingrays, South University’s QEP, reflects our dedication to enhancing student learning and success by addressing a specific and important area of focus—academic resilience. This initiative fosters a culture of continuous improvement, aligns with the university’s efforts to enhance student outcomes, and promotes innovative strategies to elevate academic quality. Below, we outline the mission and goals of South University’s QEP.
QEP Mission: The mission of South University’s Quality Enhancement Plan is to empower students to overcome adversities, improve their academic outcomes, and enhance their persistence and self-efficacy by cultivating academic resilience.
QEP Goal #1: Based on students’ engagement with activities of the QEP (e.g., Enrollment in QEP-related courses, participation in QEP-related workshops, trainings, or other activities, etc.), undergraduate students will self-report higher awareness of available resiliency resources.
QEP Goal #2: Based on students’ engagement with activities of the QEP, undergraduate students will self-report higher levels of academic resilience and the associated resilience competencies of Purpose, Mindfulness, Self-Awareness, Self-Care, and Positive Relationships.
QEP Goal #3: Based on students’ engagement with activities of the QEP, undergraduate students will apply resiliency concepts to improve student success outcomes related to continued persistence.
Resilience Competencies
Academic resilience is the ability of a student to effectively cope with, adapt to, and recover from academic challenges, setbacks, and stressors, enabling them to maintain or improve their academic performance despite adversity.
Self-care: Academic resilience self-care is the proactive approach to sustaining mental and emotional health while persistently and effectively navigating and overcoming academic challenges.
Purpose: Academic resilience purpose is the sense of motivation and direction that drives students to persist through academic difficulties and challenges with determination and focus.
Mindfulness: Academic resilience mindfulness is the practice of maintaining present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance to enhance one's ability to handle academic stress and setbacks effectively.
Positive Relationships: Academic resilience with positive relationships involves fostering strong, supportive connections with peers, teachers, and mentors that enhance a student's ability to navigate academic challenges and succeed in their educational pursuits.
Self-Awareness: Academic resilience self-awareness involves a student's capacity to accurately perceive and understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, which empowers them to respond more effectively to academic stressors and setbacks.
To find out more about South University's Academic Resilience competencies, visit our dedicated Sharepoint site.
QEP TIMELINE
QEP Discovery Team created
Exploration of possible QEP topics
Winter 2023
QEP topic survey sent to students, faculty, and staff
QEP topic finalized and reviewed for assessment
Spring 2023
QEP submitted and approved by University Executive Leadership Team
Sub-Committee work launched
Summer 2023
Assessment Committee launched
Development & Implementation Committee launched
Summer – Fall 2023
Development of QEP
Implementation plans established
Winter 2024
SACSCOC Approval
Spring 2025 – Spring 2030
Full QEP Implementation