Campus QEP plan to improve student writing capabilities

By Hayley Burgess
News Editor
Kayloni Wyatt
Managing Editor
Feb 25, 2010

Photo by Tony Lewis

Senior Dante Durant finishes a paper for class in the Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs computer lab. The emphasis of the QEP plan is to improve student writing skills within the next five years.

The University is finalizing its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a University-wide program to improve student learning in a particular area as part of the University’s reaccreditation process.

Slogan
“Write to the top” is the slogan for the QEP, which focuses on improving student writing. A survey of faculty and students found that writing was the most important student-related issue.

The program is aiming to improve student skills in writing. Dr. Elizabeth Normandy, QEP co-chair and director of the Teaching and Learning Center, and other committee members created a five-year program.

Improve writing
“Writing was at the top of the list,” Dr. Normandy said. “There was room for improvement.”

The 15-member QEP committee, made up of faculty of various departments, is working to let the campus know about the upcoming reaccreditation process.

They sponsored a contest for slogans in the fall but could not decide on one they all agreed on.

The final “Write to the top” slogan was submitted by a member on the committee.

Goals
According to the draft of the QEP plan, there are several goals that the committee wants to achieve through the program.

One of the goals is to create a writing intensive program which will follow the freshmen composition classes.

Dr. Normandy hopes that the QEP emphasis on writing will stay on as part of the University. She wants the program to improve courses in the students’ majors in order to help develop their writing.

Dr. Normandy hopes the courses become part of the graduation requirements beginning the 2011-2012 year. It will require students to complete nine hours of writing intensive courses.

Visit
An accreditation team will be visiting the school March 16-18, talking to a select group of students and randomly asking students and others outside of the selected group about what subject the University is trying to improve.

Universities are reaccredited every 10 years. UNCP was last reaccredited in 2000.

According to Dr. Normandy, it’s important for a university to retain its accreditation because it shows the public that UNCP offers a quality education and it is important that student aid is offered through the University.

“The school would not be able to continue,” Dr. Normandy said.

The QEP Committee is working to get the word out by promoting it throughout the campus with student publications, posters, signs, door hangers and table tents.

“Our goal is to get the word out to students,” Dr. Normandy said.