A new, yet absolutely fundamental, requirement for re-affirmation of institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges (SACS-COC) is development of an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), the oversight of which is the purview of the QEP Steering Committee.

The QEP:

"is a document developed by the institution that

(1) includes a broad-based institutional process identifying key issues emerging from institutional assessment,

(2) focuses on learning outcomes and/or the environment supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution,

(3) demonstrates institutional capability for the initiation, implementation, and completion of the QEP,

(4) includes broad-based involvement of institutional constituencies in the development and proposed implementation of the QEP, and

(5) identifies goals and a plan to assess their achievement."

(The Principles of Accreditation: Foundation for Quality Enhancement. SACS-COC, 2008)