Recommended Topics
Over the course of nine months, the QEP Topic Selection Committee synthesized feedback from students, faculty and staff who shared their ideas through surveys, town halls, focus groups, and department feedback. Based on the process explained in more detail below, the Committee refined and narrowed to two topics: one focused on experiential learning, and one focused on modern literacy. In mid-April, these two topics, with working titles and descriptions, strengths and challenges, and connections to the Strategic Compass, were recommended to President Kelly for his consideration. The President will further investigate each topic, including discussions with people both inside and outside the University, and plans to announce the QEP topic at the State of the University address on August 19, 2025.
Take the Helm: Experiential Learning for Career and Life
The “Experiential Learning for Career and Life” topic involves engaging students in high-impact experiences that allow them to apply academic knowledge to and within real-world situations. In short, it’s providing opportunities for “learning by doing” with a heavy dose of reflection. CNU’s liberal arts education provides a foundation for our students to successfully engage in experiential learning. In turn, experiential learning can enhance a liberal arts education by creating a “learning laboratory” where students can put their knowledge into practice, and then bring that learning back to curricular and co-curricular spaces to inform future learning. This approach emphasizes interactive exploration, experimentation, cooperation, communication and problem-solving that can help prepare students for success in specific jobs or careers and equip them for lifelong learning. Further, it can foster student engagement and development of social skills, which can positively influence student success more broadly. Examples of engaging with this topic could include course-related or co-curricular projects, fieldwork, practicums, maker spaces, creative works, supervised leadership roles, competitions, or research, as well as building upon community-engaged learning, study abroad, and internships.
Navigating the Modern Literacy Landscape
The "Navigating the Modern Literacy Landscape" topic emphasizes the core values of a liberal arts education as an avenue to prepare students for an increasingly technology-driven world by honing their knowledge and skills in information literacy. Through disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses, students will be equipped to discern effective and ethical uses of existing and emerging technologies, as well as think critically about the implications of their existence and use. This topic highlights the growing importance of educating students at the intersection of literacy and technology to enhance their fundamental ability to understand and interact with the world, distinguish accuracy of information, and make sense of critical factors that impact society. As the variety of information sources and communication channels continue to expand, the concept of literacy has evolved beyond traditional reading and writing to encompass media literacy, data literacy, digital literacy, and, more recently, AI literacy. Examples of engaging with this topic could include development of research projects, seminars, presentation series, courses, innovative teaching methods, experiential learning opportunities, and other initiatives that explore the multifaceted dimensions of the modern literacy landscape. At its core, this initiative uses a liberal arts education to prepare students as critical thinkers, well-informed citizens, and ethical leaders and followers amidst a literacy landscape influenced by ever-evolving technologies.
Process and Participation
The QEP topic identification process began in spring 2024 and continued in fall 2024 with gathering ideas for topics via two different surveys. A total of 206 survey responses for topic ideas were received, with 67 from students and 139 from faculty, staff and administrators. Toward the end of fall 2024 semester, Topic Selection Committee members worked both independently and then collaboratively to identify preliminary themes to move forward according to survey input, viability based on topic criteria, and internal and external data analysis. Six preliminary topics emerged: AI Literacy & Information Fluency, Career & Workforce Readiness, Civil Discourse, College Readiness & Academic Support, Experiential Learning, and Interdisciplinary & Systems Thinking. The six preliminary topics, along with draft descriptions, were shared and discussed with President Kelly and Provost Kidd in December 2024.
During the first half of spring 2025, feedback on the six preliminary topics was sought. Six town halls were held – five for faculty and staff, and one for students in collaboration with the Student Government Association. Participants included 78 faculty and 56 students. Another survey was fielded, with 300 responses received; 156 from students and 144 from faculty, staff and administrators.
Based on feedback from town halls and the survey, and with continued consideration of internal and external landscape data, the Committee narrowed and refined to four preliminary topics. Three of the four topics were mildly revised, whereas the topic focused on technology and information fluency was substantially revised. The four topics were thus: Experiential Learning Anchored in the Liberal Arts, Literacy in the Modern Era, Building Career Readiness Anchored in the Liberal Arts, and Student Success Through the College Journey. The topics, along with draft descriptions, were shared with President Kelly and Provost Kidd in March 2025.
Further feedback was sought to help the Committee more deeply understand stakeholder perspectives on the four topics and narrow to two or three potential topics. To this end, in late March and early April 2025, 12 focus groups were held with targeted invitations to faculty, staff and students; responses to specific questions were solicited from all academic departments; and, the undergraduate academic deans were consulted. In all, 77 stakeholders participated in focus groups and 12 academic departments submitted responses.
Taking the full topic identification process into consideration, the Topic Selection Committee concluded with a recommendation of the topics Take the Helm: Experiential Learning for Career and Life, and Navigating the Modern Literacy Landscape. In mid-April, these two topics, with working titles and descriptions, strengths and challenges, and connections to the Strategic Compass, were recommended to President Kelly for his consideration. The President will further investigate each topic, including discussions with people both inside and outside the University, and plans to announce the QEP topic at the State of the University address on August 19, 2025. Once a topic is determined, a committee will be formed to work on strategy for implementation and assessment.