CADENCE Earns SACSCOC Project of Excellence

The Work Behind the Recognition: CADENCE Named a SACSCOC QEP Project of Excellence

Tennessee State University’s Quality Enhancement Plan, CADENCE (Connect, Assess, Develop, Engage, Navigate, Create, Excel), has been recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as an inaugural Quality Enhancement Plan Project of Excellence .

TSU is one of only 17 institutions selected for the inaugural recognition following peer review of Quality Enhancement Plan Impact Reports submitted as part of the Fifth-Year Interim Review. The distinction recognizes QEPs demonstrating significant impact on student learning and student success.

For Tennessee State University, the recognition represents the culmination of five years of implementation, assessment, collaboration, and continuous improvement centered on one goal: creating a more intentional, connected, and holistic student experience.

The CADENCE Vision

CADENCE was developed to enhance holistic advising at Tennessee State University by connecting students' academic experiences with educational and career planning.

The plan established two primary student learning outcomes. Through CADENCE, students are expected to develop educational plans that connect their academic choices with personal and career goals and to articulate and document the value of their curricular and co-curricular experiences.

To advance these outcomes, CADENCE brought together academic advising, technology, career development, student engagement, assessment, and professional development through initiatives and platforms including the Paw Plan Educational Plan, UNIV 1000, EAB Navigate, Handshake, and Suitable .

Over five years, these components have evolved from individual QEP initiatives into practices and resources increasingly integrated throughout the university's approach to student success.

From Implementation to Institutional Practice

A central component of CADENCE is the Educational Plan, or Paw Plan, introduced through UNIV 1000 to encourage first-year students to intentionally connect their academic decisions, personal goals, and future career aspirations.

Assessment of the Educational Plan also demonstrates how CADENCE used data to strengthen implementation. After the Paw Plan rubric was embedded directly into eLearn, all submitted plans could be consistently assessed using established criteria. During the 2022–2023 academic year, 1,486 of 1,819 students, or 82 percent , completed all or part of their Educational Plan, with 78 percent of assessed students meeting or exceeding expectations .

By the 2025–2026 academic year, 86 percent of students completed the Educational Plan and 79 percent met or exceeded rubric expectations , reflecting the continued institutionalization of the first CADENCE student learning outcome.

CADENCE also strengthened the university's infrastructure for holistic advising through EAB Navigate. Training, faculty and staff resources, communication campaigns, and cross-campus engagement supported increased awareness and use of the platform for advising appointments, student communication, documentation, and data-informed student support.

Career development and co-curricular engagement have remained important components of the second CADENCE student learning outcome. Through platforms including Handshake and Suitable and partnerships across the university, CADENCE has worked to create opportunities for students to document, reflect upon, and articulate the value of experiences occurring both inside and outside the classroom.

Assessment as a Tool for Improvement

Throughout implementation, the CADENCE team approached assessment as more than an accreditation requirement. Data were used to understand what was working, identify implementation gaps, strengthen processes, and determine where additional institutional support was needed.

The team led ongoing collection, analysis, and interpretation of student learning, advising, engagement, and implementation data. Findings informed changes to assessment tools, faculty and staff resources, technology implementation, programming, and strategies for engaging students.

This continuous cycle of implementation, assessment, reflection, and improvement became a defining feature of CADENCE and provided the evidence used to evaluate the QEP's impact at the conclusion of the five-year implementation period.

The work culminated in Tennessee State University's Fifth-Year QEP Impact Report submitted to SACSCOC and ultimately contributed to CADENCE being selected as a Project of Excellence.

The People Behind CADENCE

The success of CADENCE represents a university-wide effort. Faculty, staff, administrators, students, and campus partners have contributed to the initiative's implementation and evolution throughout its five-year history.

At the center of that work is the CADENCE team, responsible for coordinating the day-to-day implementation, assessment, technology, faculty engagement, administrative support, student support, and cross-campus partnerships necessary to move the QEP from plan to practice.

CADENCE Team

Melody Cottingham, Assistant Director of Assessment, QEP and QEP Steering Committee Chair
Provides leadership for CADENCE implementation and assessment, including student learning outcome assessment, data analysis and reporting, continuous improvement, strategic planning, faculty and campus engagement, and coordination of QEP implementation activities.

Dr. Alexis Gaston Heaston, Faculty Liaison
Supports faculty engagement and provides an important connection between CADENCE, faculty, and the broader university community.

Mr. Marcal Thorne, Academic Technologist and EAB Coordinator
Supports the technology and data infrastructure associated with CADENCE, including the implementation and use of EAB Navigate to strengthen advising and student success.

Ms. Kay Gaines, Administrative Assistant
Provides administrative and operational support for CADENCE implementation, programming, communication, and QEP activities.

Ms. Hanna Benkowski, Graduate Assistant
Supports CADENCE assessment, implementation activities, student engagement, data collection, and special projects.

Together, the CADENCE team works across institutional areas to translate the goals of the Quality Enhancement Plan into sustainable practices supporting student learning and student success.

Guided by the QEP Steering Committee

The QEP Steering Committee provides cross-campus leadership, institutional perspective, and guidance to support the implementation and continuous improvement of CADENCE.

Representing academic and student-facing areas throughout Tennessee State University, committee members have contributed their expertise to advising initiatives, implementation activities, assessment, policy and procedure recommendations, and conversations about the long-term sustainability of QEP initiatives.

The QEP Steering Committee included:

Melody Cottingham, Chair
Dr. Alexis Gaston Heaston, Faculty Liaison
Mr. Marcal Thorne, Academic Technologist/EAB Coordinator
Dr. Charlise Anderson, Ex-Officio Member
Dr. Brent Dukhie
Dr. Erik Schmeller
Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis
Dr. Joel Dark
Dr. Ursula Robinson
Dr. De'Etra Young
Dr. Seneca McPhee
Dr. Mark Gunter
Ms. Hanna Benkowski
Dr. Verontae Deams
Dr. Kyle Murray

With appreciation for their leadership and contributions throughout the development and early implementation of CADENCE:

A University-Wide Commitment to Student Success

Beyond the CADENCE team and Steering Committee, the QEP has relied upon partnerships across Tennessee State University.

Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, academic advising, Career Development, Service Learning, Institutional Effectiveness, faculty, UNIV 1000 instructors, academic colleges, and other student-facing units have each played a role in advancing components of the plan.

That collaboration has been essential to moving CADENCE beyond a five-year accreditation initiative and toward sustainable institutional practices supporting students throughout their Tennessee State University experience.

A Project of Excellence

The SACSCOC Project of Excellence designation provides an opportunity to recognize not only the outcomes of CADENCE, but also the years of work behind them.

The distinction acknowledges what can happen when assessment informs action, technology supports rather than replaces human connection, and individuals across an institution share responsibility for student success.

As CADENCE enters its next phase, the focus shifts from implementation to sustainability: preserving successful practices, continuing to strengthen areas where work remains, and ensuring that the lessons learned through the QEP continue to inform Tennessee State University's approach to advising, engagement, assessment, and student success.

The Project of Excellence recognition celebrates an important milestone for CADENCE and Tennessee State University. More importantly, it recognizes a collective commitment to creating meaningful, connected experiences that help TSU students Connect, Assess, Develop, Engage, Navigate, Create, and Excel.