History of the UNTHSC QEP

The University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) was developed through a broadly inclusive and collaborative effort during 2008 and 2009. The goal of the QEP is to improve student learning outcomes with regard to specific courses as identified by each school by advancing student and faculty understanding and use of higher order learning as identified in Bloom's taxonomy.

The improvement of the student learning outcomes is a function of several factors, some associated with students and others with the system in which they learn. The UNTHSC QEP proposal focuses on the development of learning approaches and instructional methods in each school of the UNTHSC. This will be accomplished through faculty development that enhances the faculty members' ability to instruct students on the application of knowledge implies that faculty will put greater emphasis on the higher cognitive learning domains identified by Bloom.

In early January 2008, the QEP Team developed a time line for the QEP consisting of five major phases: 1) initial planning; 2) topic selection; 3) QEP development; 4) QEP pre-implementation; and 5) QEP implementation.

To develop the initial focus for the QEP, UNTHSC faculty, staff, and students were invited to submit themes for the QEP. Members of the QEP Team met with student, staff, and faculty groups across the four schools to announce the process and to request submission of themes. QEP Team members also met with representatives of the Graduate Student Association and the Public Health Association, as well as student representatives from the PAS Program and TCOM. The Team also gave informational presentations about the QEP for the UNTHSC Executive and Leadership Teams, as well as the Council of Deans, TCOM, GSBS, SPH, and SHP department chairs, SPH faculty, the Graduate Council, and the medical school phase and course directors. The request for themes was announced to faculty, staff, and students through email and The Daily news. An email address was established for individuals to submit theme suggestions electronically. A total of 36 suggestions were received between January 18, 2008 and February 8, 2008.