Quality Enhancement Plan

The Academic Senate and General Faculty voted at their Feb. 1 meeting to adopt a designator for the International Plan portion of the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). This puts the QEP, part of Tech ' s ongoing effort to maintain accreditation, a step closer to implementation.

The International Plan will place a global emphasis on any degree program. Students who pursue this course of study will take classes related to language, global economics and international relations, as well as a class covering a major region or country of the world. Two overseas terms will accompany the coursework.

" There is no form of preparation at the university as substantive for global studies [as the International Plan], " said Jack Lohmann, associate provost. " Employers will be aware of its benefits. "

In the Senate meeting, Howard Rollins, director of International Education, said " We want to help students develop international competence, not just provide overseas experience, " according to The Whistle.

By early next week, Tech will release a draft of the full QEP, which it will later submit to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for review March 15.

The QEP submission is one of the requirements SACS has in place for accreditation for all universities.

The plan varies from school to school, focusing on a topic chosen by the school.

Tech ' s QEP deals with undergraduate students and consists of two parts - the International Plan and a Research Plan, both of which the school intends to implement over approximately the next five years.

Lohmann described the QEP as an " exciting and unique " opportunity because of what students as well as the school stand to gain from it.

Not only will it help the school get reaccredited, he said, but it will give students the opportunity to strengthen their academic records in preparation for post-graduate studies or the workforce.

Like the International Plan, the Research Plan will allow undergraduates to complete a degree designation in the same amount of time that it takes most students to graduate.

Students who choose to be in this program will participate in three semesters of research, and will take courses to learn how research is conducted and presented.

Lohmann said that the Research Plan " will provide opportunities for undergraduate students who want to be involved with intense research. "

For completing either program successfully, students will receive a degree designation similar to the one for the Cooperative Plan.

Because neither program is a separate degree or certificate, students who choose to pursue one of the two programs will not need any extra hours to graduate.

The hours will be accommodated for by modifying the curricula requirements of different majors.

" The Research Plan and International Plan will be integrated into the degree programs, " Lohmann said.

" In the International Plan, for example, students will take courses for completion of the program, along with degree courses, from their freshman year to their senior year, " he said.

Akshay Chander, a first-year Industrial Engineering major, liked the idea of the QEP after being informed of the Research Plan and the International Plan.

" I think both the Research Plan and the International Plan have huge benefits for students, " he said. " Graduate schools will look favorably upon undergraduate research. "

Even after it is accredited once, a school must apply to SACS every 10 years for accreditation.

To complete the process, SACS will conduct an on-site visit in April, and Tech is expected to be reaccredited by December.

However, Lohmann said, Tech will continue to work on the plans outlined in the QEP for more than the next five years, by which time he anticipates that the Research Plan and the International Plan will be implemented.

" Our efforts will continue beyond five years, " he said. " We want to broaden and expand these programs to meet our goals. "

A draft of the QEP will be released by early next week, and will be submitted to SACS by mid-March.