On March 15, 2021, the University of Tennessee will submit our Experience Learning QEP Impact Report to our regional accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC). The Experience Learning QEP, which ran from 2015-2020, initiated a university-wide emphasis on engaging undergraduate students in experiential learning.
We want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the QEP Writing Team:
- Chuck Collins, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College of Arts & Sciences
- Marisa Moazen, Former Assistant Vice Chancellor of Research Engagement and Director of Undergraduate Research
- Ferlin McGaskey, Director of Faculty Development, Teaching & Learning Innovation
- Kim Denton, Coordinator of Field Education, BSSW Program and Associate Professor of Practice, College of Social Work
- Moonhee Cho, Associate Professor, College of Communication & Information
- Kim Gwinn, Associate Professor, Herbert College of Agriculture
- Chair: Stephanie Kit, Executive Director of the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration
- Heather Hartman, Assistant Vice Provost for Accreditation and UT’s SACS-COC liaison
They provided essential guidance as we authored the required SACS-COC report to highlight impacts of this initiative.
We also want to thank our Experience Learning Faculty Innovators, participants in the 2017 and 2018 Summer Institutes, College Baseline Data representatives, members of the High Impact Practices Advisory Board, and members of the Undergraduate Council’s Curriculum Committee and EL Course Designation subcommittees, all of whom had a hand in helping us achieve the goals set out in the QEP.
Finally, we want to thank all of the faculty and staff who have created EL opportunities or helped connect students to EL opportunities. This has truly been a university-wide effort.
As a lasting legacy of the QEP, our university now has a course designation system for courses that infuse service-learning, undergraduate research, or internships into their curriculum. This designation system will allow us to continue growing the number of EL opportunities for our students. Additionally, TLI remains committed to our Experience Learning initiative and supporting faculty and staff in developing EL opportunities for our students.