The Blinn College District recently shared its expertise in online education and institution-wide planning during the 2025 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Annual Meeting, held at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Reflecting the conference theme, “Finding Harmony: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities,” Blinn’s presentations focused on models that strengthen student learning and expand access through strategic, research-informed practices.
Blinn’s first presentation, “A Comprehensive Approach to Online Teaching and Learning,” was delivered by Dr. Michelle McGehee, Dean for Academic Affairs; Kimberly Paulhill, Biology Professor; and Helen Johnson, Instructional Design Specialist. The session showcased Blinn’s long-term commitment to ensuring that its online programs match and often exceed the rigor, engagement, and support found in traditional learning environments.
Presenters outlined how Blinn adopted the nationally recognized Quality Matters framework for course design, created a rigorous internal review process, and implemented structural consistency across its learning management system to simplify navigation and strengthen learning outcomes. They also highlighted how Blinn’s investment in student-centered online resources, including virtual tutoring, online library services, and a comprehensive online orientation, has expanded educational access and success for thousands of students each semester.
The presentation emphasized Blinn’s vision for high-quality online education, supported by well-trained faculty, robust academic integrity measures, and proven student support systems. While online learners nationwide often achieve lower success rates than their in-person peers, Blinn’s online students have demonstrated exceptional results, illustrating the effectiveness of the College District’s holistic approach.
Blinn’s second presentation, “Directing the Symphony: Key Lessons for Leading an Institution’s QEP,” was led by Clay Redding, Department Head of Communication Studies, and Dr. April Kinkead, Dean of Humanities. Their session provided practical guidance for faculty and administrators tasked with developing and leading a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a central requirement of SACSCOC’s 10-year reaffirmation process that focuses on improving targeted student learning outcomes.
During the discussion, presenters shared insights gained through the development of Blinn’s QEP, “Horizons: A Pathway to Literacy,” an initiative designed to support developmental education students through literacy-focused instruction, enhanced tutoring, and guided advising. The QEP provides developmental education students with strengthened academic support from Blinn’s Learning Centers, Writing Centers, and Library staff, all of whom are receiving literacy-focused professional development through Blinn’s Center for Teaching and Learning. This training includes workshops, conferences, and literacy modules created for both students and faculty.
The Division of Student Services plays a key role by providing guided advising, ensuring that students receive in-depth academic guidance before registering for classes. Together, these efforts prepare students for long-term academic success while building a coordinated, institution-wide framework that supports literacy, learning, and persistence.
By sharing the lessons learned through the development of “Horizons: A Pathway to Literacy” and its broader experiences with institution-wide planning, Blinn offered attendees actionable strategies to strengthen their own QEP initiatives, whether they are in the initial planning stages or refining existing projects.