Rust College faculty members plan a mini-lesson as an exercise in Basic Math contextual teaching and learning.

Rust College Faculty Shifts Focus to 'Think Tanks' for QEP

Mrs. Chiquita Walls discusses
Math course pairing and linkage
for the contextual learning communities

February 10, 2015—The Rust College faculty met in Professional Development Morning for the second scheduled workshop focusing on the Quality Enhancement Plan, BCATS2 - “Building Communities Academically for Total Student Success: Improving First Year Basic Math Skills.” The meeting was held in the Heard Auditorium of the Business and Computer Science Building on campus. Under the leadership of Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Sandra C. Vaughn, the focus of the workshop was “Faculty Think Tanks,” which is a key concept of the QEP approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges last fall. Presenters were Director of the QEP/Chair of First Year Experience Dr. Kenneth E. Jones and Director of Student Support Services Mrs. Chiquita Walls. The presentation offered a theoretical framework for faculty think tanks as a form of faculty learning communities and spelled out the specifics of how think tanks are to inform the activities of the first year student contextual learning communities which will be implemented in the fall of 2015. The presentation provided structure for how Basic Math courses are to be paired with Intermediate Algebra for students identified for remedial support in Math and who will form the learning communities. Then, faculty members broke out into discussion groups (think tanks) and created 5-7 minute lessons addressing several of the Basic Math course competencies and based the lessons on"contextual learning" situations, including politics, cooking, finance, architecture, games, and health.

Dr. Latricia Scriven leads workshop on Math Contextual Learning Communities

Rust College Faculty Focuses on Year One of the QEP

Holly Springs, MS (Nov. 11, 2014)--Addressing the QEP topic, "Building Communities Academically for Total Student Sucess (BCATS2): Improving First-Year Student Math Skills," the Rust College faculty held the first of several professional development workshops scheduled for the first year of the five-year Quality Enhancement Plan. Under the leadership of Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Sandra Vaughn and QEP Director Dr. Kenneth E. Jones,  representatives from each of the five academic divisions (and some staff) assembled in the Heard Auditorium of the Business and Computer Science Building to focus on "Math in the Real World." The invited consultant was Dr. Latricia Scriven, visiting professor of Mathematics at Florida A&M University. Dr. Scriven's unfettered enthusiasm for Math was infectious and clearly inspired the members of the faculty to get engaged in the activities of the QEP.

Faculty Development Morning Focuses on QEP

Academic Dean Dr. Paul Lampley (right) absorbs
QEP discussion with staff member Vivian Gulledge (left)
and QEP Committee Co-chair Ms. Martha Stovall (rear)

          The Rust College faculty spent Wednesday morning, March 20, 2013, focusing solely on the QEP topic, Building Communities Academically for Total Student Success (B-CATS2). Vice President of Academic Affairs/Academic Dean Dr. Paul Lampley designated this half-day session of the monthly "Professional Development Morning" as a time for the faculty to engage in the nuts and bolts of the developing QEP. The faculty were asked to provide feedback to the Core Committee of the QEP as it moves into the final stages of presenting a finished document to the College in preparation for submission to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Components of the working document were separated by subject and assigned to several faculty discussion groups. Each group reported out to the open session, giving their reflections on how aspects of the evolving plan can work or what needs to be revised. In addition to faculty leaders, other comments were made by President David Beckley and SACS Liaison Dr. Sandra Vaughn. Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, QEP Director, and members of the Core Committee provided information to the faculty about the work and nature of the QEP process.

B-CATS2 QEP Kickoff - A Lively Start!



President David L. Beckley addresses students
and the campus community at kickoff to B-CATS2 QEP Campaign





Rust College Marching Band





SGA President Chase Carr shows off QEP t-shirt.



L-R: Ms. Shelly Jackson, Chase Carr, President Beckley,
and QEP rapper Calvin Williams prepare for kickoff.



Miss Rust Shakaree Hale and QEP Committee member Shelly Jackson




Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha high step.




Brothers of Omega Psi Phi show their stuff at QEP kickoff.


 


Sophomore President Terry Dent flanked by two Sophomore class officers.

 


One of the Fenton sisters that performed mime chatting with
QEP Committee Co-chair Mrs. Martha Stovall



QEP Director Dr. Kenneth Jones

 


Fenton Sisters miming to "Lean On Me"

 


 

 

The QEP Kick Off

Wed., Feb. 27, 2013 · 3 pm

· McMillian Multipurpose Center

The Band · The Majorettes · The Cheerleaders

The Omegas · Alphas· Zetas · Sigmas · and AKAs

The SGA and Miss Rust

Even a QEP RAP! Everybody needs to be there! Come on!!

Contact: Ms. Vivian Gulledge, the COPE Center, (662)252-8000, ext. 4079

SGA President Chase Carr (right foreground), Miss Rust Shakara Hale (to his right), class presidents, residential assistants
and other student leaders watch a music video for a QEP campaign from another institution
during a presentation by QEP Director Dr. Kenneth E. Jones. The campus is preparing
for the QEP kickoff later in the month of February 2013.

Timeline of the Rust College Quality Enhancement Plan

Timeline	Actions	Personnel	Resources
Spring 2012	President establishes focus groups consisting of faculty, staff and students to assess institutional data and propose a range of possible QEP topics	President, faculty, staff and students	N/A
April-May 2012	A tentative topic emerges.	The focus groups, President and President’s Cabinet.	N/A
May 2012	President appoints a director for the Quality Enhancement Plan at Spring Managers’ Retreat.	President	N/A
August 2012	Surveys administered to faculty and staff on proposed topic. Incoming Freshmen surveyed.	Faculty and staff; administered by FYE staff	Office support
September 2012	QEP Core Committee identified and approved; initial planning begins.	QEP Core Committee	Office support
October 2012	(1)QEP establishes guidelines for role of students. (2) SLOs discussed. (3)Timeline for the QEP planning finalized. (4) Marketing ideas addressed.	Core Committee	Office support
November-December 2012	Topic for the QEP is narrowed; SLOs and proposed assessment methods discussed.	Core Committee	Office support
January - March 2013	QEP document and Implementation Plan are outlined (do-able and assessable) and presented for approval; QEP Promotions/ Marketing of QEP initiated; initiate discussion groups around the QEP topic.	QEP Committee and Director, President, President’s Cabinet, students faculty and staff	Office support
April-May 2013	Review Literature and begin writing the QEP document.	Core Committee and editing/ proofing team	Office support
June 2013	Feedback from first draft.	President, President’s Cabinet and Faculty	Office support
July 2013	Draft finalized.	President, President’s Cabinet and faculty	Office support
August 2013	Final QEP document submitted to SACS	SACS Liaison	Office support