The QEP, or Quality Enhancement Plan, is an initiative that outlines a new, long-term strategy chosen by a college to enhance learning for its students. It complements the college’s existing programs to improve the learning environment, strengthens student learning outcomes, and supports its mission.

The Pamlico Community College (PCC) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), “Learning Like a BOSS at PCC: Boosting Online Student Success (BOSS),” is the result of a comprehensive and collaborative effort to identify student needs and enhance student learning. Mirroring state and national trends predating COVID-19, from 2015-16 to 2019-20, total course enrollments in online classes at PCC rose from 1,278 to 1,902–a 48.8% increase (NCCCS, 2020). Simultaneously, students in online courses have had lower success (as measured by A/B/C/P grade and average course grade) and a higher withdrawal rate.

Following a multi-year topic selection and development process involving focus groups, surveys, research, presentations, and dialogue with stakeholders inside and outside the college, the QEP committee established three desired outcomes.

1. Increase success rate (A/B/C/P) of online courses 10% above baseline.
2. Increase average course grade of online courses 10% above baseline.
3. Decrease withdrawal rate of online courses 10% below baseline.

The Quality Enhancement Plan is an integral component of the reaffirmation of accreditation process and is derived from an institution’s ongoing comprehensive planning and evaluation processes. It reflects and affirms a commitment to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue that the institution considers important to improving student learning outcomes and/or student success. The document submitted by the institution demonstrates that its QEP (a) has a topic identified through its ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes; (b) has broad-based support of institutional constituencies; (c) focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success; (d) commits resources to initiate, implement and complete the QEP; and (e) includes a plan to assess achievement. The On-Site Reaffirmation Committee reviews the document and conducts interviews to determine whether the institution has demonstrated compliance with Standard 7.2.