TAMIU Launches QEP Initiative Focused On Undergraduate Writing

On Thursday, Texas A&M International University students got a chance to preview the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) to improve undergraduate writing and become part of a campus culture promoting and valuing writing.

To launch its program, the University staged a fun version of TV's "Jeopardy" game, while describing the University's "Write On, TAMIU!" campaign to prepare students for success in their personal and professional lives by embracing writing.

Dr. Dan Jones, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the QEP and its main campaign, "Write On, TAMIU!" is consistent with the University's mission.

"The QEP is TAMIU's way of making sure that students have the skills they'll need when they graduate.  By enhancing the quality of their writing and preparing them for real-life situations, TAMIU is confident that their future co-workers, employers and community groups will value their writing skills," Dr. Jones said.

Jones said the QEP was created as part of the University's effort to reaffirm accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS).

"This is part of our SACS accreditation process and focuses on providing students with a learning environment anchored by the highest quality programs built on a solid academic foundation in the arts and sciences," he said.

Jones shared the QEP's primary goals.

"Our QEP goals include increasing the pass rate on the University Writing Assessment, extending writing activities throughout the entire University, emphasizing excellence throughout the community by gauging employer satisfaction with TAMIU graduates, and researching effective writing enhancement studies that can be shared with other academic community members," Jones said.

The QEP goals will be delivered by enhanced programming and services available through the University's Writing Center and Testing Center as well as through the Scholars Alliance for Learning and Teaching (SALT), a faculty group focused on short writing assignments across all disciplines.

For more information, please contact the provost's office at 326.2601, visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library 255, qep@tamiu.edu.

Additional information on the QEP is available at http://qep.tamiu.edu/

Information on the SACS process is available at http://www.tamiu.edu/sacs/

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu