Throughout the spring semester, our campus community was asked to provide input in the selection process for an overarching theme for our next Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP is a requirement for our reaffirmation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and will be implemented over the five-year period following SACSCOC approval of our plan in 2023. The QEP must be designed to improve student learning or the student learning environment, and the topic must be in alignment with our institutional mission and goals as well as supported by institutional data. Based on the input we received earlier in the semester, faculty, administration and staff, and students were asked just before the end of the spring semester to make a final selection for the QEP theme. More than 60% of the respondents from each group selected Professionalism/Soft Skills for our QEP theme. This theme was recently affirmed by the Strategic Planning Steering Team.

A group of faculty and other key researchers are conducting a literature review on Professionalism/Soft Skills this summer. We will use their findings on best practices as we start development of our plan. We will need assistance from all across the college to develop a comprehensive plan that will help our students build strong Professionalism/Soft Skills for the future, so please be on the lookout for opportunities to participate in this exciting initiative this fall!