Howard Payne University began implementation of its 2024-2029 Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) with the start of the fall 2024 semester. This QEP is titled “Game Plan for Academic Achievement – GPA+: Academic Coaching for Jacket Success,” and is designed to help students build the skills they need to succeed in the classroom through HPU’s newly certified academic coaches.

HPU’s QEP was developed as part of the institution’s reaccreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The goal of the QEP is to help the most academically at-risk students be equipped to succeed. Within the QEP, desired institution outcomes include GPA improvements, term-to-term student retention and persistence to graduation rates.

The premise of the plan is that adopting an “academic coaching” model will increase the effectiveness of the university’s student support services through the Center for Student Success.

“We know that students who experience lower GPA’s have a higher propensity of being at risk of dropping out of college,” said Dr. Jill Heupel, associate vice president for academic affairs. “A high percentage of this at-risk population do not have the metacognitive skills, or self-regulatory skills, to be successful at the higher educational levels. Therefore, the addition of academic coaching will create a partnership between the academic coach and the student that equips the student to develop valuable self-regulatory college life skills needed to achieve academic success at the collegiate level.”

In order to offer academic coaching to students, three HPU staff members earned a certification as Academic Coaches from the Association of Coaching and Tutoring Professionals. These three academic coaches are Dr. Wendy McNeeley, assistant vice president for student success; Dr. Jennifer McNiece, academic coach; and Dr. Mary Agboola, coordinator of graduate studies and special projects in academic affairs. While the QEP has an emphasis on serving at-risk students, all students are encouraged to utilize the academic coaching opportunities that are now part of HPU’s Center for Student Success.

“During the training, we gained practical tools to empower students in taking responsibility for their own academic success,” said Dr. McNeeley.

The Center for Student Success, which is housed in a renovated space on the second floor of the Walker Memorial Library, has just started its second academic year of operation. Along with the new addition of academic coaching, the center also offers peer tutoring in most general education subjects, learning assistance services, academic testing and academic advising.

Dr. McNeeley has been encouraged by the accomplishments of the center so far and anticipates continued advances in their ability to serve students this year.

“We have a great group of student tutors who are humble, supportive and encouraging” said Dr. McNeeley. “The creation of the center has already allowed for an expansion of tutoring offerings and hours, which has resulted in academic improvement for participants. I look forward to seeing how academic coaching will help even more students succeed.”

This QEP will be implemented in three phases over the course of five years, with ongoing evaluation of institution and student outcomes. For more information about HPU’s QEP, visit www.hputx.edu/qep.