estern is taking the next step in ensuring the university will receive federal funding for students to use toward their education.

The university is currently seeking re-accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Accreditation is necessary for Western to receive federal money for research grants and scholarships for students.

As part of the process, the university will submit a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) the first week of March. The QEP lays out a plan for the next 5 to 7 years that will enhance students’ education and experience.

Western’s QEP is “Engaging students for success in a global society.”

The main goal of Western’s QEP is for students to work on learning activities in other communities than their own.

The outcomes for the plan are that students can apply their knowledge to concerns in their communities or society, respect diversity and be aware of their global opportunities.

Biology Department Head Richard Bowker, chair of the QEP committee, said the committee surveyed students to see what they did to practice their discipline in extracurricular activities.

Then they came up with a plan of how students could do more, he said.

Retta Poe, associate dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the co-chair of Western’s SACS committee, said the committee is thinking of possibilities of how to implement the plan on campus.

She said they’re thinking of making improvements to the honors program, encouraging international travel and making use of the freshman seminar classes to make students aware of their responsibilities as global citizens.

Bowker said the other part of the plan was to get existing engagement activities involved in the plan and to build them up.

He used architecture students involved with Habitat for Humanity and theater students taking part in campus productions as examples.

“To me, it’s about the students – not about SACS,” he said.

Provost Barbara Burch said the university will spend the next five years implementing the plan.

Poe said Western will send a report to SACS after five years to show how well the QEP is working.

Western’s SACS committee turned in a compliance report last September, stating how Western was in compliance with SACS standards.

SACS then held an off-site review in Atlanta in November. Western satisfied all but five of the 70-some standards, and the university is currently gathering more information for SACS about the missed standards.

An on-site review of Western will be held April 18-20. SACS will make their decision concerning Western’s re-accreditation in December.

SACS reviews are held every 10 years.

Reach Kelly Richardson at news@wkuherald.com.