University of Houston-Clear Lake Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

Applied Critical Thinking (ACT) for Lifelong Learning and Adaptability QEP Topic

Once the QEP is fully implemented, the majority of full-time faculty who teach undergraduate courses within and across each of the schools of the university will:  Incorporate the best practices advocated by the Foundation for Critical Thinking for teaching ACT skills into one or more of their courses.  Incorporate ACT learning outcomes into one or more of their courses.  Identify best practices and learning outcomes on the course syllabi of the ACT courses they are teaching. Description

The key student learning outcomes of the QEP are:  Students will use curiosity to identify a particular problem or area of interest within a discipline.  Students will make connections to their particular issues or problems based upon evidence acquired by research methodologies and citation methods within the discipline.  Students will demonstrate creativity through a divergent mental approach exploring original alternative views/solutions.  Students will communicate outcomes through writing and/or presentations. Student Learning Outcomes

The implementation of the QEP will occur in the following stages: Year 0: the university will begin professional development, organizational meetings, development of ACT materials, and other preparatory activities. Year 1: the School of Business (BUS) and the School of Science and Computer Engineering (SCE) will begin implementing Applied Critical Thinking courses. Faculty will be invited to submit courses for approval by the QEP Leadership Team. Stages of Implementation

Year 2: the School of Education (SoE) and the School of Human Sciences and Humanities (HSH) will begin implementing Applied Critical Thinking courses. Faculty will be invited to submit courses for approval by the QEP Leadership Team. Year 3: the School of Business (BUS) and the School of Science and Computer Engineering (SCE) will add additional ACT courses. Year 4: the School of Education (SoE) and the School of Human Sciences and Humanities (HSH) will add additional ACT courses. Stages of Implementation

 Provides oversight of the implementation, evaluation, and revision of the QEP  Acts as liaisons between the QLT and their respective schools  Reviews and approves annual SACS QEP report  Reviews and approves courses submitted for ACT status  Plans, designs, and implements ACT workshops What is the QEP Leadership Team (QLT)?

Co-chair (Faculty) Co-chair (Administrator) – QEP Director Faculty Members (Lead Faculty) Faculty Senate Representative Library and Student Services Representatives PASA and SSA Representatives Student Representative Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Quality Leadership Team

School/OrgRepresentative BUSDr. Kenneth Black BUSDr. Lee Revere SoEDr. Lawrence Kajs (Faculty Co-chair) SoEDr. Randy Seevers HSHDr. Hunter Stephenson HSHDr. Robert Bartsch SCEDr. Larry Rohde SCEDr. Raj Chhikara Faculty SenateDr. L. Jean Walker LibrarySusan Steele Student ServicesDr. Alfred Kahn PASANichole Eslinger SSAThelma Brown StudentAshton Tucker AVP-AADr. Mrinal Mugdh QEP DirectorKevin Barlow (Administrative Co-Chair) QLT Membership

Embedded Assessments Product Rubric Communication Rubric Institutional Assessment Cornell Critical Thinking Skills Test–Level Z (CCTST-Z) National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Graduate Student Survey (GSS) Alumni Survey (AS) Assessment of Learning Outcomes

How will QEP affect me? Faculty  Request ACT designation for selected courses  Participate in development opportunities  Work with students who have been introduced to ACT concepts  Support for research and presentations at the local, regional, and national levels  Improve teaching (and critical thinking) skills

How will QEP affect me? Students  Learn more in student-centered courses  Participate in hands-on learning opportunities, inside the classroom and out  Opportunity to select courses based on critical thinking skills component  Access to more engaging and complex coursework  Support for research and presentations on local, regional, and national levels  Improve critical thinking skills

How will QEP affect me? Staff  Participate in development opportunities  Support for programs that provide extra-curricular learning opportunities for students  Work with students who have been introduced to ACT concepts  Support for research and presentations on local, regional, and national levels  Improve critical thinking skills

SACS On-Site Visit: April 3 – 5 Key points to remember …

QEP Topic Applied Critical Thinking (ACT) Learning Outcomes  Students will use curiosity to identify a particular problem or area of interest within a discipline.  Students will make connections to their particular issues or problems based upon evidence acquired by research methodologies and citation methods within the discipline.  Students will demonstrate creativity through a divergent mental approach exploring original alternative views/solutions.  Students will communicate outcomes through writing and/or presentations.

QEP Website

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