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<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Dear Lion Family,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Please join me in welcoming Dr. Eric Branscome as Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Director. The QEP Director works with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research in matters relating to the conception,
execution, and assessment of the University’s QEP. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">The QEP is a University initiative focusing upon improving specific student learning outcomes. Thorough the QEP, the University addresses a topic identified through its ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation
processes. The aim is continuous institutional improvement. The QEP is a required element of the University’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges accreditation reaffirmation.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">At the request of the President, our QEP will focus upon student preparedness for the marketplace. A University-wide taskforce was convened to determine areas for improvement in student workplace readiness based
upon institutional data. Later this month, a group of industry partners and young alumni will gather to provide input on how to improve student readiness in these areas.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">From those insights will emerge three to five proposed projects that will be submitted to the campus community for feedback. Dr. Branscome will take the lead as we move into the late stages of our topic selection
process. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Dr. Branscome recently celebrated his twenty-fifth year as an educator, with seven years of K-12 experience (elementary music) and eighteen in higher education. He has served as Music Department Head at TAMUC (2021-present)
and Austin Peay State University (2017-2021). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Dr. Branscome served on Austin Peay’s QEP Assessment Committee, and later, served as co-chair of that University’s institutional assessment committee. Dr. Branscome has further accreditation and assessment experience
through attendance at SACSCOC annual meetings and with his work with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Dr. Branscome’s doctoral cognate area was higher education administration, and more recently, he completed a graduate certificate in higher education administration. Dr. Branscome has a personal interest in the career-readiness
aspects of the QEP as my dissertation was on the topic of music careers and “career fit.” In conclusion, through these opportunities, Dr. Branscome has gained extensive experience in the functions and duties outlined on the QEP Director position.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">We are excited and looking forward to Dr. Branscome’s leadership of the University’s new Quality Enhancement Plan as part of the SACSOCC 2024 Reaffirmation process!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Ricky Dobbs, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">Sr. Vice-Provost<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:black">SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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