Welcome to the South University Quality Enhancement Plan Web site.

In some settings, critical thinking is nothing more than a popular buzz word or a transient academic fad. We would argue that it should be the native language of the academy and the sustaining substance of education – students should not simply be learning about a discipline or subject matter, they should be learning instead how to think critically in terms of that discipline or subject. Critical thinking is not something that can be added on to what is already occurring in the classroom.

Our plan for enhancing student learning will require a major paradigm shift in how our faculty teach and how our students learn. Most of the teaching at South University is didactic in nature. Our goal is to move towards a critical thinking approach focusing on fundamental concepts, central questions, active learning and a higher order of thinking.

According to Robert Ennis, “Critical thinking is reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do.” Richard Paul’s definition defines it by saying “Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking, while you’re thinking, in order to make your thinking better.”

South University is committed to continuously improving how we teach and how our students learn and I encourage you to read the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan. Critical thinking will not be a series of buzz words at South University, but rather the way we do our jobs, the way we teach our students and the way the students learn as they pursue their degree.

Sincerely,

O. Joseph Harm, PhD

Vice President of Academic Affairs