ACC Announces QEP Name Selected in Collegewide Vote

‘Math PLUS – Practice, Learn, Understand, Succeed’ Launches Pilot Classes Next Spring

The Austin Community College District proudly announces the official name of its quality enhancement plan (QEP): “Math PLUS — Practice, Learn, Understand, Succeed.”

Math PLUS is five-year QEP to transform developmental math classes into a more successful model for student learning. The name garnered 49 percent of nearly 900 votes cast in the collegewide QEP Name Contest, which ended April 19. | See vote totals below.

“The Math PLUS name truly captures our intent with the QEP,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “This is all about making students more successful in a challenging area. I commend the work of our QEP team, the faculty, staff, and students at ACC for their involvement in this process as we move forward and make Math PLUS a reality.”

The plan incorporates hands-on math application, math-specific study skills, and collaborative instruction to improve student learning. The QEP’s first phase launches in spring 2013, when the college pilots a revamped Basic Math Skills class.

QEP Committee Representative Marcus Jackson, right, presents a free iPad to grand-prize winner Jessica L. Johnson, a nursing student.

“We expect Math PLUS will have a huge impact on student success,” says Dr. Constance Elko, math professor and chair of the QEP planning committee. “This will make developmental math more engaging, more relevant, and more enjoyable for students.”

Nursing student Jessica L. Johnson submitted the Math PLUS name, winning an iPad for her efforts. She says she came up with the idea after reviewing the elements of the plan.

 “The first step is to try to do the problems,” says Johnson. “What the QEP is doing differently is to make sure you understand. If you have that down, you’ll succeed.”

The QEP is a collegewide initiative to enhance ACC’s learning environment. It also is an important component of the reaffirmation of accreditation process conducted by the college’s accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. ACC is undergoing the reaffirmation process now and will submit the Math PLUS QEP in fall.

For more information and updates, see the QEP information page at austincc.edu/sacs/qep.

The vote tally is below. The college randomly selected vote participants to receive Riverbat prizes; winners have been notified via email.

QEP Name Contest Final Vote
NAME NUMBER OF VOTES PERCENT OF TOTAL
Math PLUS – Practice, Learn, Understand, Succeed 431 49%
Strength in Numbers 257 29%
The Path to Math 186 21%
TOTAL 874 100%

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