Quality Enhancement Plan SACSCOC On-Site Review: March 11-13, 2014 Louisiana State University Quality Enhancement Plan March 2014 Developed by Louisiana State University and A & M College in preparation for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Foreword from President and Chancellor of Louisiana State University and A&M College The changing landscape of higher education provides a pivotal opportunity for flagship universities to renew their commitment to student learning. Our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) will increase students’ opportunities to participate in undergraduate research in ways that significantly advance their knowledge, abilities, and capacity for lifelong learning. The plan transforms student learning by adapting courses and curricula in a manner that takes advantage of the wealth of research activities always in progress at LSU. Development of the high-level skills and abilities associated with effective research ensures their emergence from the baccalaureate experience well prepared for the challenges they will face in the 21st Century workforce. Participation F. King Alexander in undergraduate research will deepen contact with faculty and President and Chancellor reinforce the prospect that students will acquire the ability to expand knowledge, create innovations, and effectively communicate findings. This plan strongly affirms our commitment “to be a leading research- extensive university” that challenges students “to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development.” Many individuals worked tirelessly on this project. The university is indebted to the faculty, students, staff, and administrators who served on The SACSCOC Steering Committee and The QEP team, whose dedicated effort, thoughtful feedback, and creativity resulted in this impressive, promising plan. Thanks are due also for the contributions of numerous others from LSU colleges, departments, and administrative groups, and from private-sector partners. Finally, special recognition is due to the primary authors of this document: QEP team chair, Carol O’Neil; QEP implementation committee members Nancy Clark, Randy Duran, Jori Erdman, Sarah Ferstel, Bobby Matthews, Janet McDonald, Elaine Smyth, and Vince Wilson; and the staff of the Office of Communications & University Relations. As one who greatly benefited from participation in undergraduate research, I am delighted to lead the LSU community in the launch of “LSU Discover.” 1 Louisiana State University QEP Table of Contents Foreword and Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................... 1 I. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 4 II. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 5 II.1 Introduction to the University ................................................................................................... 5 II.2 The LSU Faculty ...................................................................................................................... 6 II.3 LSU Students .......................................................................................................................... 7 III. Institutional Process to Identify Key Issues and Select the QEP ........................................... 9 III.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................. 9 III.2 Assessing Existing Data and Data Collected by the QEP Team to Identify Opportunities to Improve Student Learning ...................................................................................................... 9 III.3 Conferences Attended and Acquisition of Information from External Sources ..................... 16 III.4 Solicitation and Evaluation of Initial and Final Concept Papers ........................................... 16 III.5 Further Assessment of the Final Two Concept Papers ........................................................ 16 III.6 Existing Undergraduate Research Programs at LSU ........................................................... 17 III.7 Focus Groups and Pilot Studies ........................................................................................... 18 IV. LSU Discover SLOs ................................................................................................................... 19 IV.1 Definition of Undergraduate Research ................................................................................. 19 IV.2 SLOs ..................................................................................................................................... 19 IV.3 Primary Methodology for Assessing LSU Discover SLOs: The Digital Response Folio ....... 20 IV.4 Learning E-Portfolio .............................................................................................................. 21 IV.5 SLO5 and the Student’s Digital Self-Representation as Competent Researcher: The Digital Self (exclusive to mentored students and select degree programs) ..................................... 21 IV.6 Overview of QEP Program Activities .................................................................................... 22 V. Literature Review and Best Practices ..................................................................................... 23 V.1 Review of Literature ............................................................................................................... 23 V.2 Best Practices ........................................................................................................................ 25 V.3 Best Practices at Other Institutions ....................................................................................... 26 VI. Actions To Be Implemented...................................................................................................... 27 VI.1 Co-curricular Opportunities .................................................................................................. 27 VI.2 Curricular Transformation ..................................................................................................... 32 VI.3 Mentored Undergraduate Research ..................................................................................... 40 VI.4 LSU Discover: Research Day .............................................................................................. 49 VII. Timeline: A logical calendar of actions to be implemented ................................................... 54 VIII. Project Management ................................................................................................................. 59 IX. Resources .................................................................................................................................. 63 X. LSU Discover Assessment ....................................................................................................... 65 XI. References ................................................................................................................................. 71 Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... 76 2 Table of Contents TABLES Table II.A LSU’s Vision and Mission Statements and Selected Flagship 2020 Goals ........................................................................ 6 Table III.A Timeline of Selecting the QEP at LSU and Finalizing the Report .................................................................................... 10 Table III.B Results from University Learning Competencies, 2012 ................................................................................................... 12 Table III.C Comparison of LSU First-year and Senior Responses with Carnegie Class Peer Group Responses for Select Questions Related to Undergraduate Research or Skills/Accomplishments for NSSE 2011 .......................................... 13 Table III.D Results from Employer/Advisory Board Survey April, 2013 ............................................................................................. 14 Table III.E Students’ Ranking of What They Think Is Most Important for Faculty to Improve ........................................................... 15 Table III.F Conferences Attended and Information Gathering from External Sources ...................................................................... 16 Table IV.A Overview of LSU Discover Activities ................................................................................................................................ 22 Table V.A LSU Discover Activities Based on Best Practices of Other Institutional Programs ........................................................... 26 Table VI.A.1 Introduction and Awareness Activities .......................................................................................................................... 29 Table VI.A.2 Skill Set/Knowledge-base Building Activities ................................................................................................................ 30 Table VI.A.3 Research Community Cultivation and Networking Activities .......................................................................................