EDGE is the theme of the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan. (Photo by Carol Lynn)

Georgia Perimeter College students have an edge—or rather, EDGE. The acronym stands for “Engagement Drives GPC Education,” which is the theme of the college’s new Quality Enhancement Plan or QEP.

The EDGE mission is to improve student learning by providing more engaged learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

“Engaged learning provides a deeper understanding of the connections across the disciplines and ties classroom learning to real-world applications,” says Dr. Sean Brumfield, QEP executive director for GPC. “Engaged learning helps students to develop analytical and problem-solving skills and creative thinking and requires faculty to move from passive involvement with their students—i.e. a lecture—to a more engaged way of teaching.”

Initially, two courses—English 1101 and History 1111—have been selected as EDGE courses. The fall 2012 courses will provide baseline assessment data, while EDGE courses using engaged learning will start in fall 2013. During spring 2013, faculty will be learning to use strategies of engagement in their courses. Two different EDGE courses will be added each year over the five-year period.

Engaged learning strategies include collaborative and problem-based learning, service learning, community-based research as well as using existing campus activities, such as GPC Reads, The Democracy Commitment, campus gardens and days of service as a springboard to engaged learning outside the classroom.

A five-year QEP plan is required for Georgia Perimeter’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools College. A SACS team visited the college in September and is expected to release its report in the spring.