San Jacinto College QEP
"It's in the Book!"

What is San Jacinto College’s QEP?

The San Jacinto College Quality Enhancement Project (QEP)is part of the College’s reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Designed to improve student learning, the QEP is titled “It’s in the Book!” and emphasizes student engagement with the readings that are important to success in their courses.

College faculty who volunteer to be part of the QEP recognize the importance of a student’s reading and using course materials to his or her success. These faculty include activities in their courses that help students manage the course readings to gain understanding of the concepts and terms in the course. In QEP classes, students appreciate the value of coming to class ready to participate in class discussions and understand more fully the information that is presented by their professor.

How did the QEP develop?

Faculty involvement has been the key to the success of our QEP. The project began in 2007 with faculty-led brainstorming sessions that resulted in the identification of a project topic. The first faculty volunteers became part of the project in 2008. In November 2008, the SACS Site-Visit Team approved the San Jacinto College QEP. They recognized that our QEP addresses a problem shared by institutions of higher education across the United States and noted that our project might have regional and national implications for improving student success. Once we had gained that stamp of approval, our QEP became the Quality Enhancement Project and faculty began to work successfully with their students. Additional faculty became part of the project in 2009 and in 2010. QEP instructors observe their classes carefully to identify challenges to student success in managing course texts. Teachers then develop QEP strategies to engage their students with their course readings so that they can learn effectively.

QEP Benefits

Studies of successful college students suggest that students who are prepared for class by reading their course materials are more likely to be active learners who typically are more successful in completing assignments and in taking tests. QEP faculty and students report many benefits of being part of the Project:

1. QEP faculty find that taking time to observe their students gives them insight into the ways students approach coursework and navigate through it. Through their observations, instructors can describe the skills students have brought with them and the skills students lack. This perspective on student behaviors helps faculty to integrate course reading materials into class activities and to encourage students to become active learners. Instructors have found that students who participate in learning gain confidence from mastering content, enjoy their learning, and are likely to be successful.

2. Students report that working with the course readings in QEP classes has helped them understand complicated concepts so that they are able to do well on tests and other kinds of graded activities. They have also said that the QEP sections hold their interest because they can contribute to class discussions and share information and ideas with other students.

3. Many QEP faculty members report improved grades and higher retention. The QEP Project is developing a learning culture that is a”win-win” for students who gain knowledge for future success and for faculty who are finding new ways to help students be genuinely successful.

Faculty members participating in the QEP teach on all three of the College campuses and come from many departments:

QEP Faculty
281.998.6198

For more information about the San Jacinto College Quality Enhancement Plan, contact Serita Dickey, Director SACS Compliance, at 281-458-4050 x7618 or serita.dickey@sjcd.edu.