“Advancing Student Learning Through Enhancement of

Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning”

 

This theme seeks to educate a community of creative thinkers and problem solvers within the framework of the College’s mission and purpose. Critical and constructive thinking and learning goes beyond what one knows.  Therefore, students will actively and skillfully use various critical and analytical thinking methods to solve real world problems.

 

 

 

A broad spectrum of the college community participated in the focus group sessions and the selection of the theme.

 

Focus Groups

The QEP Steering Committee conducted a series of focus groups with students, faculty, staff, deans, administrators, alumni, and members of the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees to explore topics for a QEP theme and which topics may have the greatest interest.

            As a result of these focus groups, the SACS Team Steering Committee was able to identify three themes.  The College community was asked to recommend a QEP theme that resonates with Tougaloo College’s mission and the idea of enhancing student learning outcomes.

 

The Theme Selection Survey

            On the survey, we asked the college community to (a) select one (1) of the three themes, and (b) to write a focus statement or goal for the theme selected. This survey was conducted at the Pre-Session Conference (faculty, staff, and administrators) and the Provost’s Convocation (students, faculty, staff, and administrators).

 

The Three Possible QEP Themes

            The three possible QEP themes are:

 

1. “Advancing Student Learning Through Enhancement of Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning”

 

This theme seeks to educate a community of creative thinkers and problem solvers within the framework of the College’s mission and purposes. Critical and constructive thinking and learning goes beyond what one knows. Therefore, students will actively and skillfully use various critical and analytical thinking methods to solve real world problems.

 

2. “Student Engagement and Internationalization of the Curriculum to Enhance Student Learning Outcomes”

 

This theme seeks to provide students with an awareness, understanding and appreciation of the nature and scope of cultural differences. Students will participate in programs such as Study Abroad and Fulbright Scholars Program to enhance their knowledge and skills to make informed and critical assessments of global events and to analyze these events from many cultural viewpoints.

 

3. “Improving Student Learning Through Community Service”

 

This theme seeks to provide opportunities for students to serve, learn and become active participants in service to humankind.  Further, it provides avenues for conversation about what’s important in the student’s life and the greater community, such as:

- globalization and life long-learning.

- practical application for acquired knowledge/skills.

- opportunities for the development of new skills and/or revisit old skills, such as: mentoring, leadership, responsibility, time management,  dependability and, etc.

- opportunities for career exploration, networking and action-oriented community service.

 

Table 1 shows the results of the voting.

 

 

TABLE I

QEP Theme Selection Survey Results

QEP Themes	Total Vote	Percentage
Theme #1	90	47
Theme #2	30	15.7
Theme #3	71	37.1

 

Recommendation

Based on the results in Table I, the SACS Team and the QEP Steering Committee is pleased to recommend, “Advancing Student Learning Through Enhancement of Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning”, as the Tougaloo College QEP theme.