Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

What is the QEP?

QEP stands for Quality Enhancement Plan, which is an institutionally-derived plan to assess achievement of an identified goal.  The QEP must focus on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success.  Each institution's QEP plan should be focused and succinct (no more than 75 pages of narrative text and no more than 25 pages of support documentation or charts, graphs, and tables).  In 2005, Texas Tech's first QEP was titled “Do the right thing,” which was focused on developing ethical behavior in TTU's undergraduate student population.  In 2015, Texas Tech's second QEP was titled “Communicating in a global society,” which was created to enhance global communication skills among TTU's entire student body.

When is the QEP Proposal Deadline?

Texas Tech will submit its third Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Proposal prior to the On-Site Reaffirmation of Accreditation visit in Spring 2025.  The Proposal is due approximately six weeks prior to the On-Site Visit.  Most likely, the QEP Proposal will be due around mid-January 2025.

How is the QEP Evaluated?

Texas Tech's QEP Proposal will be reviewed by our peers who serve on Texas Tech's On-Site Reaffirmation Committee.  The names of the committee members will likely be released to President Schovanec and to SACSCOC Liaison Darryl James in mid-Fall 2024.  The On-Site Reaffirmation Committee will review Texas Tech's QEP Proposal based on the following components: (1) a topic identified through ongoing, comprehensive and evaluation process, (2) has a broad-based support of institutional constituencies, (3) focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student successes, (4) commits resources to initiate and implement The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement Standard 7.2 and complete the QEP, and (5) includes a plan to assess achievement.

What is the Expected Relationship Between the QEP and TTU's Strategic Plan?

SACSCOC clearly states that the QEP topic should have “broad-based support of institutional constituencies,” and that the plan “focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student successes.”  It is permissible for the QEP to be derived from the university's strategic plan, strategic priorities, or strategic initiatives.

Who Leads the QEP?

In 2005, Texas Tech's QEP was led by a tenured faculty member from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.  Near the mid-point of this QEP, the Ethics Center was created, which was managed by a full-time staff member.  

In 2015, Texas Tech's 2nd QEP was led by a tenured faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences.  Similarly, the 2nd QEP resulted in the development of the Global Communications Center, which is currently managed by a tenured faculty member in the Office of International Affairs. 

SACSCOC does not prescribe that a stand-alone office or center should be created as a direct result of QEP efforts, nor does it specify how the QEP should be led. However, the QEP rubric does state that “human and financial resources are clearly identified for all stages of implementing and completing the plan.”