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The Design as an Immersive ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Experience (DIVE) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a critical part of the university's ten-year reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and constitutes a new and focused effort to enhance student learning. DIVE was created within the context of Immersion Vanderbilt in support of the Academic Strategic Plan. The goal of DIVE is to teach human-centered design thinking to students so that they may solve complex, real-world problems, develop critical thinking skills, and work in multidisciplinary teams during an immersive, faculty-guided project. 

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø DIVE

DIVE (Design as an Immersive ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Experience) will create an additional outlet for pursuing immersion experiences, as part of the Immersion ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø initiative. DIVE will bring together small-interdisciplinary teams to learn human-centered design methodology to facilitate problem solving. Each team will be led by a faculty or staff member and will address broad ranging questions such as:

-"how do we increase usage of public transportation in Nashville,"

-"how can we make the cafeteria experience better for Vanderbilt students,"

-"how do we make public data sets readily available to the public?," or

-"how do we improve the patient comfort experience before surgery?"  

Topic Selection & Implementation Process

On September 4, 2015, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente issued a call to the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø community to submit program ideas for the Immersion Vanderbilt QEP. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni submitted a total of 44 program ideas, of which three were chosen by the Immersion QEP Committee to be developed into formal ten-page proposals by broadly representative subcommittees of students, faculty, and staff.

The three finalist proposals included:

On February 1, 2016, the Office of the Provost began soliciting feedback from the campus community on the three finalist proposals that were accessible online. Campus members were invited to attend the QEP Town Hall meeting on February 29, 2016, during which members of the QEP subcommittees shared their ideas and answered questions. Following a QEP proposal presentation by Vice Provost Cyrus, feedback was solicited both in person and through a questionnaire from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Student Government (VSG). In addition to numerous in-person discussions and presentations, a total of 77 separate written comments (through physical and online feedback forms and emails) were received and reviewed by the QEP Topic Selection Committee. 

Following the two-month comment period, the Immersion QEP Committee carefully reviewed the three finalist proposals in light of the community’s feedback, and recommended the selection of Design as an Immersive ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Experience (DIVE) as Vanderbilt’s new QEP. On May 12, 2016, Provost Susan R. Wente subsequently authorized the selection of DIVE as Vanderbilt’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

Vice Provost Cynthia J. Cyrus convened the  to draft the formal QEP proposal that was submitted to SACSCOC for approval in February 2017. This process included the build-out of an implementation and assessment plan.

Immersion QEP Criteria & Guidelines

As Vanderbilt's new QEP, DIVE is focused on Immersion Vanderbilt and meets the following institutional criteria:

• Academically rigorous;
• Conducted outside of or beyond the classroom;
• Includes faculty guidance;
• Yields a tangible, measurable product.

In addition, DIVE is consistent with the goals of the , is within the capacity of the university to implement and govern, and will be accessible to all ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø undergraduates, regardless of their major, minor, or undergraduate school.

DIVE also meets the following SACSCOC criteria:

• The QEP must be focused and directly related to student learning;
• The QEP must have clear goals;
• Vanderbilt must be able to assess the outcomes of the QEP and its effects on student learning.

DIVE Finalization Committee

DIVE Assessment Subcommittee

Derek O. Bruff, director, Center for Teaching; senior lecturer, mathematics, College of Arts & Science;

Melissa S. Gresalfi, associate professor of mathematics education, director of graduate studies in teaching and learning, Peabody College; and

Richard J. Ianelli, senior associate director of research and analytics, Vanderbilt Institutional Research Group.

DIVE Program Subcommittee

A. Will Berger, undergraduate student, School of Engineering;

Alex Borowski, graduate student, Owen School of Management;

Derek O. Bruff, director, Center for Teaching; senior lecturer, mathematics, College of Arts & Science;

Clive Mentzel , senior lecturer, political science/public policy, College of Arts & Science; director, office of active citizenship & service;

David A. Owens, professor for the practice of management and innovation; faculty director, VU Accelerator-Summer Business Institute, Owen Graduate School of Management;

Ben Shapiro, doctoral student, Peabody College; and

Celia Walker, director of special projects, Jean and Alexander Heard Library.

DIVE Curriculum Development Committee

Chalene Helmuth, senior lecturer, Spanish & Portuguese department, College of Arts & Science; and

Alexandra A. Sargent, senior lecturer of theatre, costume designer & costume shop manager; College of Arts & Science.

DIVE Marketing Subcommittee

A. Will Berger , undergraduate student, School of Engineering;

Alex Borowski , graduate student, Owen School of Management;

Elizabeth C. Boyd, project manager, vice provost for learning and residential affairs; and

Celia Walker, director of special projects, Jean and Alexander Heard Library.

Reports and Related Documents

Key Dates

October 19, 2015: QEP idea submissions due

November 16, 2015: Immersion QEP Committee charged three subcommittees to develop full proposals in the chosen thematic areas

January 15, 2016: three finalist proposals due

February 1, 2016: begin proposal comment period

February 29, 2016: Town Hall on QEP proposals at 5PM in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library Community Room

March 2016: QEP topic selection recommendations due to the Provost from the Immersion QEP Committee

May 12, 2016: announcement of the QEP topic by Provost Susan R. Wente

May 2016: convening of the QEP Proposal Development Working Group

February 2017: deadline for the submission of the full QEP proposal (including implementation and assessment plan) for SACSCOC review