Buies Creek, N.C.-In addition to demanding academic expectations, many new college students are faced with some of life’s toughest questions. What do I want? Where do I fit in? How can I accomplish my goals? Campbell University is in the process of developing a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that will not only provide guidance and assistance to new students, but help ease the discomfort of acclimating to college life.
A campus-wide effort to identify the issues to be covered by the QEP plan was begun in January 2009. As chairman of the 20-member QEP Leadership Committee that includes representatives from the Campbell student body, staff, faculty, administration and alumni, Dr. Tim Metz led a massive fact-finding initiative that gathered data from surveys, focus groups, suggestion boxes and other sources across campus.
“We had to identify the issues that most benefit student learning,” said Metz, who is director of Institutional Research and Assessment. “What works? What is not so good. After collecting and sifting through all of data, we narrowed the list down to several big issues.”
The most significant of which was to work with freshmen and new students so that they establish a solid foundation in the art of being successful, Metz said.
“This includes knowing how to study efficiently, for example reading analytically and critically, building good study skills. New students generally need guidance in making career choices and in finding emotional resources and support on campus. In other words, they need the basic social, intellectual and academic skills that will help them succeed.”
One part of the QEP plan is to expand on the programs already in place on campus, the Lundy-Fetterman School of Businesses’ New Student Forum course, for example, and the College of Pharmacy and Health Science’s introduction course for pre-pharmacy majors.
“At this point, we don’t know exactly what the plan is going to look like across the board,” Metz said. “But we are soliciting representation from all of the schools and colleges on campus.”
Phase Two, the development of the QEP plan, is underway and must be submitted to Campbell’s accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, by February 2011.
“The benefits of programs such as QEP are very great,” Metz said. “Many schools that have already implemented them report an uptick in retention, achievement and student success. The payback is potentially very significant.”
Campbell University’s QEP plan is projected to be in place by fall 2012.