Committee members have reviewed data, explored new information, and spoke with students and peers to best evaluate which areas would most benefit from a long-term improvement program.

Student Focus Groups

Tim Graeff proposed the idea of speaking with students to better understand their concerns and opinions about which University areas may need improvement.  In an effort to gather the student data for the Committee, student focus groups were held the last week in February.  Four sessions comprised of 31 students were held in the Business and Aerospace (BAS) SunTrust Room and were moderated by Dr. Graeff.  Each session asked the students to think about their experiences at MTSU and how those experiences have benefited them or how those experiences have detracted from their overall learning.  See the full report.

Committee Brainstorming Session

The Topic Selection brainstorming session was held on March 5, 2014 in the James E. Walker Library IT/LTC.  Members were presented with four questions to consider:

1. What kinds of knowledge and skills are important to the future success of MTSU students?

2. Based on data, what kinds of knowledge and skills do MTSU students need to improve?

3. Based on data, are there student population groups the QEP should target?

4. What types of experiences could most enhance learning at MTSU?

Each member presented his or her findings and the group conferred to determine trends or themes that emerged as possibilities for a new program.  See the full report.

After reviewing the brainstorming session, the group came up with 6 general themes and sent out a campus-wide survey.  See survey results.  The group then reviewed the survey results; discussed feedback from their constituents, and reduced the list of ideas.  From the reduced list, a subcommittee met to provide more detail to each them and also combined two popular themes into a new concept. 

After reviewing the brainstorming session, the group came up with 6 general themes and sent out a campus wide survey.  link to the overall results. The group reviewed the survey results; discussed feedback from their constituents; and reduced the list of ideas.  From the reduced list a subcommittee met to provide more detail to each theme and also combined two popular themes into a new concept.  Strengths and weaknesses for the remaining concepts were reviewed and the top two concepts emerged. The first being: Engagement for Academic and Professional Success and the second being Academic Engagement in General Education.

 

This topic was presented to the Provost and President for feedback and support. Over the summer and early fall the topic was presented to Chairs Council, Faculty Senate, and Dean’s Council.  The President’s Cabinet met on September 29, 2014 and unanimously approved the topic: Engagement for Academic and Professional Success (working title).

 

Why was MT Engage selected as the topic of MTSU's QEP?

• Aligns with MTSU’s mission, Academic Master Plan The Reach to Distinction, and Quest for Student Success                                                                                                            
• Builds on the 2005 QEP Experiential Learning (EXL) which was primarily at the upper division level (
• Capitalizes on strengths at MTSU (LT&ITC Faculty Learning Communities, Digital Media Studio, University Writing Center, existing High Impact Practices at MTSU, etc.) thereby benefiting from institutional capability
• Addresses a need for increased student engagement and improved integrative thinking by students, as revealed by institutional data