Quality Enhancement Plan

Submit a Topic

What is a QEP?

A Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a five-year plan dedicated to improving an aspect of student learning. The QEP is a vital part of Mercer’s reaffirmation of accreditation process with our accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Mercer is due for reaffirmation every ten years, with our next scheduled site visit in Spring 2025. The on-site evaluation team will devote a large component of their time evaluating the QEP.

Every institution of higher education that is accredited by SACSCOC develops a QEP as part of the reaffirmation of accreditation process. Additionally, each institution determines their own focus of the QEP, based upon the institution’s mission and strategic plans.

Our QEP will start in Fall 2025 and continue through Spring 2030.

According to the SACSCOC Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation, the QEP includes the following expectations:

The QEP describes a carefully designed course of action that addresses a well-defined and focused topic or issue related to enhancing student learning and/or student success. The QEP should be identified through or in concert with the institution’s ongoing integrated institution-wide planning and evaluation process. (pp. 33)

Developing the QEP

The SACSCOC Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation (pp. 34-40) suggests nine critical steps in the development of a QEP:

  1. Selecting a Topic
  2. Defining the Outcomes
  3. Researching the Topic
  4. Identifying the Actions to be Implemented
  5. Establishing the Timeline for Implementation
  6. Organizing for Success
  7. Assessing the Success of the QEP
  8. Preparing the QEP for Submission

Planning Timeline

QEP Timeline

Call for Proposals

A Call for Proposals for a QEP topic is being solicited from the Mercer University community.

Submitting a Topic Proposal

In order to keep proposals simple, focused, and in a single-page format, proposals should address the following basic elements:

  1. A title or theme that captures the proposed plan
  2. An area of student learning improvement and your rationale for the choice
  3. An identification of the kinds of students or target group this plan will affect
  4. A connection to the university’s mission or strategic plan

As submitters develop their rationale/justification for a proposed topic, they should consider the following questions:

  1. Why is the proposed topic important to Mercer University?
  2. How will the proposed topic affect student learning?
  3. What existing problems or gaps in student learning will the proposed topic address?
  4. What data or other evidence supports the need for the proposed focus? How do you know that this is a problem?
  5. How is the proposed topic related to Mercer’s institutional character, vision, mission, and/or strategic plan?

Please complete and submit the QEP Topic Proposal Form. Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by members of the QEP Screening Committee.

QEP Forums

The QEP Screening Committee will host forums on both the Macon and Atlanta campuses in Fall 2022.

  • Atlanta Forum – Thursday, October 20 • 2-3 p.m. – AAC 245
  • Virtual Forum – Tuesday, October 25, 12-1 p.m. – ZOOM
  • Macon Forum – Wednesday, October 26 • 2-3 p.m. – Stetson 158

Hosted by Wesley Barker, the QEP Screening Committee Chair.

QEP Screening Committee

  • Dr. Wesley Barker, College of Professional Advancement (Chair)
  • Dr. Kevin Honeycutt, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences/House of Delegates
  • Ms. Barbara Love-Smith, Staff Council
  • Dr. Suzi Madden, College of Health Professions
  • Dr. Briana Stenard, Stetson-Hatcher School of Business
  • Ms. Jamie Brown, Regional Academic Centers
  • Dr. Timothy McReynolds, Townsend School of Music
  • Dr. Loleta Sartin, Tift College of Education
  • Dr. Donald Ekong, School of Engineering
  • Ms. Kaitlynn Kressin, Alumna
  • Dr. Caroline Anglim, School of Medicine
  • Dr. Danielle Buehrer, Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submitting a proposal is Friday, December 2.