QEP In Action
USI 130-14
Chesney Reich
QEP Goals for USI 130-14
 Introduce students to the concept
of synthesis
 Allow students the opportunity to
articulate connections among
their college experiences and
their aptitudes, abilities, and
interests
 Encourage the intentional pursuit
of meaningful curricular and cocurricular experiences
QEP Outcomes and Related Class
Activities and Assignments
Outcome: Integrate information from a
variety of contexts
Activities and Assignments:
In-class Synthesis Activity (see handout)
Event Reflections
Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory
“Careers, Majors & Salaries: The Best Way to
Choose.” Presentation by Michael Despeaux,
Career Services Office
Synthesis Presentations
QEP Outcomes and Related Class
Activities and Assignments
Outcomes: Solve Complex Problems and
Practice Civic Engagement
Activities and Assignments:
In class presentation by Sandy Frazier, Development
Director for REACH of Jackson County
Service project with REACH of Jackson and Macon
Counties: The Smothers Brothers Fundraiser
Reflection on the Service project and the implications
for REACH
QEP Outcomes and Related Class
Activities and Assignments
Outcome: Clarify and act on purpose and
values
Activities and Assignments:
Values Auction (see handout)
Event Reflections
Synthesis Presentations
Letter to an Incoming Freshman
Activities and Assignments:
Synthesis Activity
 Purpose: To give students an
opportunity to experience synthesis
via a hands-on, group activity.
 Outcome: Students use the in-class
activity as a starting point for
articulating ways in which
information, ideas, skills, knowledge,
and materials can intersect to create
a new product.
Activities and Assignments:
Synthesis Activity
The Assignment (see handout):
Students work first in small groups, then as
an entire class to combine knowledge, skills,
and materials in creating a “Super Student
Gadget” that will allow them to be successful
in all of their classes.
Class discussion follows each step in the
activity and gives students an opportunity to
formulate examples of real-world synthesis.
Activities and Assignments:
Synthesis Activity
Questions for discussion
 Can you think of a time when something you learned in one
class “intersected” with something you learned in another class?
 Have you been able to apply knowledge or experience from one
class to another class or to life outside of class?
 Has your classroom learning ever been challenged by something
you learned or experienced in another class or in your personal
life?
 Why is it important to think about your classes in terms of
connections and interrelationships rather than considering them
individually?
Activities and Assignments: Event
Reflections
Purpose: To encourage students to
explore the university, to learn about
campus resources, to develop interests,
and to interact with others.
Outcome: Students choose events that
compliment their interests, skills, and
abilities, and they learn about themselves
and their community in the process.
Activities and Assignments: Event
Reflections
The Assignment:
Participate in four out-of-class events and write a
reflection about each.
Reflections should include:
 A description of the event and an explanation of why you
chose it
 A reflection of what you learned about your values,
preferences, interests, learning style, abilities, strengths, or
weaknesses as a result of participating in the event
 A reflection of how the event relates to something you have
learned or discussed in another class
Activities and Assignments:
Synthesis Presentations
 Purpose: To encourage students to
reflect on and make meaning out of their
curricular and co-curricular experiences
and to think ahead to the experiences
they will create for themselves during
their college careers and beyond.
 Outcome: Students will demonstrate to
their classmates the connections among
their interests, skills, and abilities; their
career goals; and their learning
experiences both inside and outside the
classroom.
Activities and Assignments:
Synthesis Presentations
The Assignment: Make a 5-8 minute presentation to your
classmates that includes
 An analysis of what you have learned/experienced this semester and
how those experiences relate to your values, interests, skills and
abilities, and preferences
 A reflection of how you have changed since setting foot on campus,
based on the experiences you’ve had this semester
 A plan for how you will use this knowledge to seek out and create
experiences for yourself that will integrate, strengthen, or allow you to
apply your values, interests, skills and abilities, and preferences to the
remainder of your college career and to your post-college career
 A presentation format that is well suited to you and that includes a visual
aid or prop
Activities and Assignments : Letter to
an Incoming Freshman
Purpose: To allow students to articulate
their personal and professional growth.
Outcome: Students write a letter that
summarizes their learning experiences
during the first semester of college and
that provides advice and insight to an
incoming student.
Activities and Assignments: Letter to
an Incoming Freshman
The Assignment: As you write the letter, ask
yourself…
 What have you learned about yourself since coming to Western,
and how did you learn it?
 Based on your own experiences and your observations of others
this semester, what one piece of advice would you give to an
incoming freshman?
 What has been your biggest mistake as a first-semester
freshman?
 What’s the most interesting or important thing you’ve learned this
semester, either inside or outside the classroom?
 What’s one thing you’ve done or experienced this semester that
you would recommend to an incoming student?
Words of Wisdom from the Letters:
Integrate Information
 QEP Outcome: Students will make connections
between personal interests and abilities, Liberal Studies,
programs of study, general electives, and experiential
learning opportunities, and other co-curricular activities;
and relate the implications/value of these connections to
‘real world’ scenarios.
 “Western has helped me develop my life in so many ways. I
have developed better social skills, not only with classroom
interactions but also in the dorms and in outside-of-campus
events.” – Shea
Words of Wisdom from the Letters:
Integrate Information
“I have learned so much since coming here,
and not just in the classroom…so many
things that have and will help me in the
future.” – Brad
“If I can give you any advice, it will be to get
involved. Involvement gives you new skills
and remarkable opportunity. Western has a
vast variety of clubs and activities and one
will fit your major and career. The sooner
you participate in a club the sooner you will
be on your road to success.” - George
Words of Wisdom from the Letters:
Practice Civic Engagement
 QEP Outcome: Students will identify their roles and
responsibilities as engaged citizens by considering the
public policies that affect their choices and actions; by
recognizing commonalities and interdependence of
diverse views/values; and by acting responsibly to
positively affect public policy.
“Do not think that you are just another
person that has come here for an education,
because you are not. One thing that I have
learned is that you are a piece of what is
Western’s history in the making. Everything
you do has an impact on what happens
around you.” – Heather
Words of Wisdom from the Letters:
Practice Civic Engagement
 “The most interesting thing I have learned this semester
was about this area. I have learned the history and the
politics of Western Carolina University, and I love it. I
have been fortunate enough through Western to meet all
of the politicians that were running for office this season,
and I had the chance to visit Cherokee. There is a rich
variety of people, places, and culture in these mountains;
don’t forget to check it all out.” – George
Words of Wisdom from the Letters: Clarify
and Act on Purpose and Values
 QEP Outcome: Students will examine the views/values
that influence their own decision making processes; take
responsibility for their own learning and development in a
manner consistent with academic integrity and their own
goals and aspirations; intentionally use knowledge
gained from learning experiences to make informed
judgments about their future plans; and bring those plans
into action.
“Since coming to WCU I have learned even more
about myself and life. For the first time I actually
took control and did a few things for myself.”
– Janelle
Words of Wisdom from the Letters: Clarify
and Act on Purpose and Values
 “Being in college you are exposed to many new ideas, challenges,
and temptations. Your parents are not there to make decisions for
you. You are 100% responsible for your own actions. By
surrounding myself with people who share my same morals and
values, I was able to stay true to myself.” – Courtney
 “I have realized that college is way different than high school. I
realized after taking my first chemistry test and getting back the
grade of a thirty one that I was going to have to start studying and
actually apply myself to my studies. I saw that no one was going to
pull me out and help me out. I was going to have to do this by
myself.” -- Morgan
QEP Outcomes Demonstrated
in Students’ Synthesis
Presentations
Integrate information from a variety of contexts
& clarify and act on purpose and values:
Courtney Greeson, Recreational Therapy
Major, Dance Minor, Member of the WCU
Dance Team
Dance Techniques
allowed me to
audition for a ballet
in Asheville.
I am minoring
in DANCE !!!
By getting involved with
different activities provided
By my RA and Western Peaks,
I was able to find out more
about my career path.
Courtney Greeson – Synthesis Presentation,
Dec. 2008
By networking I found
out that Western does
not offer my major …
Occupational Therapy
within the school
system.
QEP Outcomes Demonstrated
in Students’ Synthesis
Presentations
Integrate information from a variety of
contexts:
Heather Weaver, Clinical Laboratory
Sciences Major and Member of the Pride of
the Mountains Marching Band
“Without one piece, the puzzle is
incomplete”
You learn to work as a
team and accomplish
something together
If one person is out or
does not know what to
do, then the project is
obscured
Heather Weaver – Synthesis Presentation,
Dec. 2008
QEP Outcomes Demonstrated
in Students’ Synthesis
Presentations
Integrate information from a variety of
contexts, practice civic engagement, & clarify
and act on purpose and values:
George Gibbs, History and Political Science
Major, Member of the College Republicans
George Gibbs – Synthesis Presentation, Dec. 2008
Team Work
Leadership
Communication Skills
George Gibbs – Synthesis Presentation, Dec. 2008
Values- Helping people, political
values, leadership
Skills and abilitiescommunication and leadership
Preferences- working with
people and solving problems.
George Gibbs – Synthesis Presentation, Dec. 2008
Final Words…
 “College is a place where you will learn a ton of new information
about yourself. I personally have learned about my leadership,
communication, and self-responsibility skills. While spending my first
semester here at Western, I was able to visit Sarah Palin in
Asheville as a volunteer. It was my responsibility to help guests that
were attending the rally and I had to work closely with the Secret
Service. Both of these requirements made me take up leadership
and the ability to communicate with guests. If you have an interest in
politics I would strongly recommend getting involved in political
science. And if you have a partisan interest be sure to check out
College Democrats or College Republicans.”
– George Gibbs, Letter to an Incoming Freshman