The university community is invited to provide feedback and suggestions on the of Mason鈥檚 Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Transformative Education through Anti-Racist Community Engagement.
The purpose of the QEP is to improve student learning or the student experience in a specific way over the course of a five-year evaluative period. Mason鈥檚 last QEP, Students as Scholars, led to the creation of the Office of Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR) and the significant presence of undergraduate research at Mason. The hope is to embed civic learning and anti-racist community engagement into the Mason student experience in similar ways.
鈥淲e are excited to share this plan with the university community after this year-long development process,鈥 said Kristen Wright, director of civic engagement and undergraduate education and QEP co-chair.
The QEP鈥檚 four areas of focus include:
- Curriculum and Pedagogy, which includes incorporating community-based learning, civic learning, and anti-racism into curriculum;
- Staff and Faculty Development, which includes the creation of faculty and staff training, as well as funding for faculty development related to anti-racist community engaged teaching and research;
- Critically Responsive Student Experiences, which includes investment in graduate and undergraduate community engaged experiences that are paid or credit-bearing; and
- Community Engagement, which includes expanding K-12 engagement and hosting symposia on anti-racist community engagement.
鈥Core to the mission of the QEP is to include the campus community in the development of the process. The feedback from the campus community has been crucial to developing a plan that is collaborative, student-centered, and that will positively affect student learning and development connected to anti-racist community engagement and civic learning,鈥 Wright said.
The QEP Development Committee will meet and review the feedback as it is submitted.
After integrating feedback from the campus community, Mason will submit the plan to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as part of the reaffirmation process.
鈥淲e look forward to continued partnership and co-creation as we finalize the plan and move into implementation,鈥 Wright said.
For individuals who are interested in learning more, the QEP Development committee will host meetings and provide presentations. Email Kristen Wright if you would like a representative from the QEP Development Committee to speak to your department or group. Kiosks will be strategically placed across campus throughout October to provide additional information. The deadline to is Friday, Oct. 29.