Accreditation Process

Quality Enhancement Plan Topic

The topic chosen for the Lee College QEP is “Improving Student Learning Through Additional Support".  As part of the process in choosing this topic, three focus areas will be addressed:

1. Expectations and Commitment –
   Faculty report that students underestimate the amount of study and rigor of college courses
   Examples:
   • For new students coming to Lee College the orientation would include a major part on the difference between college and high school.
   • All freshman level syllabi could include expectations for student including all current information plus grade profiles (listing typical characteristics of the grade levels.  For example a grade of C means minimal level of skill, highly inconsistent work, as many weaknesses as strengths, modest and inconsistent reasoning and problem–solving,  etc.)
   • Seek commitment: Students would receive an understanding form—summary sheet of what the instructor expects from the student with an explanation of each item discussed during the first day of class and have the student sign.   
   • Faculty would also work with student services to distribute information to students about tutoring, open labs, library, and other support services.  Student services personnel would work closely with faculty to tailor services to respective coursework.   
2. Low Skill Level
   (Developmental education and others)
   Examples:
   • Develop learning community of a developmental course with a college level course in clusters of technical fields.  The developmental course would be taught contextually.  On-line tutorials, on-site tutors and learning labs would be established to support these.  Also a mentor and intervention program might be established.  Students in collaborative learning environments are more involved, and spend more time on course work inside and outside the classroom (Palmer, 1997; Tinto, 2003).
   • Develop a college prep program for first time in college students who need two or more developmental courses and have them as a cohort (similar to Project Lee Way).  On line tutorials (academic systems, Plato, etc.), on-site tutors and learning labs would be established to support these.  A mentor and intervention program might also be established.  This cohort would also get intense study skills and college orientation.
3. Impact of Policies and Processes
   (Environment for student success)
   Examples:
   • Review all policies  (provisions for registration, assessment, financial aid, course placement upon entry, class changes, orientation, first-year experience, feedback on academic progress, new course development, new program development, class scheduling, student activities) to reflect the priority placed on student learning.  Change processes that are barriers to student learning.