Where We Are and Where We Are Going with the QEP

1. Where We Are and Where We Are Going with the QEP Marilyn Kurata, Ph.D. Director of Core Curriculum Enhancement Faculty Forum March 24, 2012 1

2. 2012-13 Discussion Book Freshman Discussion Book is institutionalized: • President’s welcome, book related presentation, and small group discussions will continue to take place the day before fall term begins. • College Night at the Birmingham Museum of Art will continue as an annual fall event. The Discussion Book Committee will continue to oversee this program.

3. First Year Experience (FYE) Courses FYES institutionalized in Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, & Health Professions. CAS and School of Nursing will develop more effective FYEs. Metrics and assessment instrument for FYEs are being reevaluated.

4. Freshman Learning Communities FLCs will consist of 2 to 4 courses. Fall 2012 FLCs will be available for freshmen in the following units: CAS Business Engineering Nursing

5. Capstone Courses Capstones are institutionalized as a graduation requirement. Each department is responsible for ensuring that • programs have an effective, relevant capstone. • writing is a significant component. • QL and/or ECR, if appropriate, is a component. • majors are tracked to ensure capstone completion.

6. Writing, QL, and ECR Writing, QL, and ECR remain significant competencies for all UAB undergraduates. Course designations were a mechanism for identifying and publicizing the importance of these competencies. Institutional emphasis will shift to providing concrete support to enhance the quality of instruction in these competencies in each program.

7. Writing The Department of English will develop valid assessment of its freshman composition program. Each discipline will continue to offer courses that identify writing as a significant learning outcome. UAB will offer support for writing through • The Writing Center for students • The Center for Teaching and Learning for faculty

8. Quantitative Literacy The Department of Mathematics will continue to maintain the demonstrated effectiveness of the Mathematics Learning Laboratory. • DWF rates will continue to be monitored in lower level math classes. All students must take at least one core math class.

9. Ethics and Civic Responsibility ECR will continue to be developed through the Discussion Book initiative, FYEs, and capstone courses (as appropriate). ECR remains an integral component of all programs in the Honors Academy, but especially the Global and Community Leadership Honors Program.

10. ECR cont’d ECR will be the focus of service learning courses, courses that promote civic engagement, and service to the community activities. Center for Teaching and Learning workshops will help faculty articulate/demonstrate more clearly how ethics and/or civic responsibility is a course learning outcome.

11. Institutional Assessment of Writing and Quantitative Literacy The ETS Proficiency Profile has been administered to a sample of incoming freshmen since 2004 and will continue to be administered to them. Each program will enter into WEAVE its assessment of student learning outcomes in writing and relevant QL components.

12. Institutional Assessment of Ethics and Civic Responsibility The NSSE has been administered to a sample of freshmen and seniors since 2000 and will continue to be administered to them. Each program will enter into WEAVE its assessment of student learning outcomes in relevant ECR components.

13. In Summary The 2005 QEP established a framework and foundation for our Vision of a UAB Graduate. While some components have been institutionalized as originally conceived, others have been modified or on hold while undergoing re-evaluation.

14. Moving Forward Next, UAB will gather input on what our 2015 QEP should be, encouraging ideas that develop organically from the first QEP. The success of our 2005 QEP is due to the hard work and commitment of so many members of the UAB community. Thank YOU!