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Quality Enhancement Plan


What is a QEP and why do we need one? 

QEP stands for Quality Enhancement Plan. Southern Adventist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC), which requires us to submit a QEP as part of our 2022 accreditation reaffirmation. SACS expects the QEP to "enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue or issues the institution considers important to improving student learning." Because of Southern's longstanding commitment to student well-being, this QEP was decided to properly represent Southern in the upcoming accreditation. Southern Adventist University selected "Living in Balance: Healthy Minds" as the QEP topic for the 2022 accreditation cycle.

What is Southern’s current QEP?

The Healthy Minds QEP started in August 2022 and will continue through the 2026-27 school year. This 5-year, campus-wide initiative is focused on mental health and the goals are to lower student psychological distress and stress while increasing psychological well-being. The plan includes curricular content in four key courses, as well as campus-wide events and mental health programming.

Upcoming Events

Make sure to note our mental health programming here

09/08/2025

Mental Wellness Week

Mental Wellness Week is an event designed to focus on brain health and how to integrate five dimensions of wellness: physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual.

Bietz Center

11:00 AM-03:00 PM

10/09/2025

Notes of Kindness/National Depression Screening Day

An event catered around spreading kindness on National Depression Screening Day where people can send encouragement and also have resources to screen for depression.

Bietz Center

11:00 AM-03:00 PM

10/24/2025

Psychology Symposium

Partnered event with the Southern Adventist University Psychology Department to focus on the topic of sleep at their yearly symposium.

Summerour Hall

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11/03/2025

Step Forward Event

2 Week campus-wide initiative for students, staff, and faculty to make one small change to better their mental health.

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03/02/2026

Stress Out Week

The event equips students with stress management skills and coping strategies as they enter mid-term exams.

Bietz Center

11:00 AM-03:00 PM

04/16/2026

"Mental Health Toolkit" Event (Specific Date and Time TBD)

This event will be composed of educational sessions on typical mental health risks and challenges common to college students.

TBD

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