Gadsden State Community CollegeLibGuidesQuality Enhancement PlanQEP Home Search this Guide Search Quality Enhancement Plan: QEP Home The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a carefully designed course of action that addresses a well-defined and focused topic to enhance student learning. The QEP is the component of the SACSCOC accreditation process that reflects and affirms Gadsden State’ QEP Home Full QEP Report QEP Leadership Team QEP Presentation Best Practices Math OnDemand Cardinal Academy Cardinal Tutoring Center Student Support Services Math Division Advisement Resource Center Teaching & Learning Center Professional Development QEP Student Learning Outcomes Student Learning Outcomes for Your Math GPS SLO One: By the end of the five-year period, decrease the percentage of students withdrawing from MTH 098, Elementary Algebra, to 15%. (Three-year baseline – 21.1%) SLO Two: By the end of the five-year period, increase the percentage of students successfully completing MTH 098, Elementary Algebra, to 60%. (Three-year baseline – 43.5%). This baseline includes students who withdrew from the course. SLO Three: By the end of the five-year period, increase the percentage of students enrolling in the next highest math course after successfully completing MTH 098, Elementary Algebra, to 95%. (Fall 2015 successful MTH 098 students enrolling in the same academic year - Initial baseline – 85%). QEP Strategies The topic proposed is called Your Math GPS – Guidance from Peer Tutors = Success. This Quality Enhancement Plan includes four major strategies to enhance student learning: Implementation of “Best Practices.” Math OnDemand – a Blackboard Module that contains written materials, videos, and links to UpSwing and EdReady. With new ILOS software to be purchased in Fall 2017, the videos also offer quizzes that allow the instructor to determine mastery of the skills covered in the video. An Embedded Tutor Program. A Peer Tutor Program. What is a QEP? A Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a five-year plan dedicated to improving an aspect of student learning or the environment for student success. The QEP is a vital part of Gadsden State's reaffirmation of accreditation process with our accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 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. 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 the environment supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution. The QEP should be embedded within the institution's ongoing integrated institution-wide planning and evaluation process and may very well evolve from this existing process or from other processes related to the institution's internal reaffirmation review. Gadsden State’s QEP is entitled, “Your Math GPS: Guidance from Peer Tutors = Success.” QEP Introduction QEP Summary & Overview Colleges across the country have identified low success rates for students needing remedial instruction as a significant barrier to college completion, and this is also true of students at GSCC. There is a clear need for GSCC to do more to help students complete their Developmental Math courses and progress to credit bearing courses and ultimately to graduation. The choice of Your Math GPS for the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) topic is data-driven and supported by scholarly research. A review of the literature and institutional data indicate that students are struggling in this area. This review of the literature also shows that well-developed peer tutoring and embedded tutoring programs are successful in not only increasing student completion in Developmental Math courses but also increasing retention and potential for competition of certificate and degree programs. Gadsden State Community College is dedicated to student success and committed to the mission of this proposed Quality Enhancement Plan. Mission The mission of the Quality Enhancement Plan, Your Math GPS – Guidance from Peer Tutors = Success, is to advance the academic success of all Gadsden State Community College students in MTH 098, Elementary Algebra, by providing access to academic support through on-demand online resources, embedded tutors, and peer-to-peer tutors. The Solution The four strategies to address the low success rates in Developmental Math (MTH 098) are the following: Systematic Evaluation of Teaching/Learning Strategies to identify “Best Practices” A Blackboard Module entitled Math OnDemand Embedded Tutoring Peer Tutoring Math OnDemand Math OnDemand is a module that exists within Blackboard and consists of four basic components: Written explanations of key concepts; Cardinal Academy videos - a library of 20-minute instructional videos; Online Tutoring Service - providing on-demand, individual instruction, and support from expert online tutors across a wide variety of subject areas; EdReady - a software that provides self-paced, hands-on activities. “EdReady lets you assess your readiness for college Math, see study options, and get a personalized study path to fill knowledge gaps,” according to the company website, www.edready.org. The goal is for instructors to introduce students to these resources in class for general use with homework and during test preparation and then to refer particular students when appropriate. Students in need can seek assistance individually and independently and on their own time schedule. All components of Math OnDemand are study aids available whenever and wherever the student needs assistance. Embedded Tutor Program The Embedded Tutor Program consists of placing peer tutors in specific courses, in this case MTH 098. The tutor is present for the classroom activities, knows the material and assignments first hand, and meets with students in groups and individually to facilitate further understanding of the material and development of necessary skills. This initiative places tutors in classrooms and has them readily available for one-on-one assistance and scheduled small group sessions, particularly before and/or after class. The tutors come to the students through this program. Peer Tutoring Program While embedded tutors will be assigned to MTH 098 classes, many students may want or need individual tutoring or may have a problem or question when the embedded tutor is not available. Those students can visit the Cardinal tutoring centers. A student can be matched with a Student Support Services tutor (if they qualify) or a drop-in peer tutor, if one is available. If the instructor encounters a student who is struggling and needs assistance beyond what is provided online or in class, the next step is for the faculty to refer the student to the Advising Center or directly to the tutoring center. The Advising Center will alert the QEP Director who will contact the students and meet with them to provide an evaluation and assistance with finding the necessary academic support. These students will then be assigned to a Peer Tutor who they can meet with one-on-one and possibly on an ongoing basis. This level of tutoring assistance is conducted in a much more intensive learning environment. The QEP director will coordinate the tutoring to serve these referred students. Summary Each level of assistance marks a more intrusive level of academic support: Students can seek assistance on their own through Math OnDemand. Embedded Tutors can be on hand in the classroom and during study sessions to offer assistance and reach out to students. Instructors can refer students who continue to struggle to the Advising Center where advisors will alert the QEP Director who will then assign them to a Peer Tutor. Students needing help can also be assisted in one of the Tutoring Centers on a drop-in or scheduled basis. GSCC hopes that Your Math GPS will be a comprehensive academic support program for mathematics that will meet the needs of MTH 098 students on all campuses. Meet the QEP Director Dr. Danny Wilborn Division Chair for Mathematics dwilborn@gadsdenstate.edu (256) 549-8493 Key QEP Representatives Ms. Kelley Pearce Associate Dean for Enrollment & Retention kpearce@gadsdenstate.edu (256) 549-8376 Ms. Candace Davis Math Subject Matter Expert/Math Instructor - Ayers Campus cdavis@gadsdenstate.edu (256) 832-1232 Mr. Sonny Kirby Math Subject Matter Expert/QEP Developmental Math Instructor - Gadsden Campuses skirby@gadsdenstate.edu (256) 549-8349 QEP Student Resources Your Math GPS includes a number of activities to help students succeed in MTH 098. Below is a summary of the activities available to students: EXPANDED TUTORING Cardinal Tutoring Center (CTC) and Peer Tutoring With locations on various campuses, the Cardinal Tutoring Center is designed to help students find tutoring assistance whenever they need it. Students will be matched with a Student Support Services tutor (if they qualify) or a drop-in peer tutor, if one is available. While the QEP focuses specifically on MTH 098, any student can use the resources available in the CTC – no matter what subject they are taking. For more information on the CTC, CLICK HERE. Embedded Tutor Program The Embedded Tutor Program consists of placing peer tutors in specific courses, in this case MTH 098. The tutor is present for the classroom activities, knows the material and assignments first hand, and meets with students in groups and individually to facilitate further understanding of the material and development of necessary skills. This initiative places tutors in classrooms and has them readily available for one-on-one assistance and scheduled small group sessions, particularly before and/or after class. The tutors come to the students through this program. Upswing Online Tutoring Gadsden State now has Upswing! Upswing is a comprehensive online tutoring platform that offers 24/7 assistance to students in any subject. If a tutor is not available in the CTC, students can access Upswing. You can access Upswing by CLICKING HERE or you can access it through a link in your Blackboard courses. EXPANDED RESOURCES Math OnDemand – Math OnDemand is a new Blackboard module that exists in all of Gadsden State’s mathematics Blackboard courses. The goal is for instructors to introduce students to these resources in class for general use with homework and during test preparation and then to refer particular students when appropriate. Students in need can seek assistance individually, independently, and on their own time schedule. Read more about the Math OnDemand module by clicking on the Math OnDemand tab at the top of the page or by CLICKING HERE. Last Updated: Nov 30, 2021 9:55 AM URL: https://gadsdenstate.libguides.com/QEP Print Page Login to LibApps Report a problem. Subjects: Especially for Students. . ., Faculty, Math Tags: cardinal tutoring center, math, math assistance, math help, MTH 098, peer tutors, QEP, SACSCOC, tutors Ask Us