Leveraging Accreditation for Equity: Quality Enhancement Plans as Catalysts for Student Success in Hispanic-Serving Institutions

ABSTRACT This study investigates how Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), particularly Texas community colleges, develop and implement quality enhancement plans (QEPs). Despite the growing Hispanic student population, a review of the literature and available institutional reports reveals a striking absence of empirical data on how QEPs address Hispanic students, with only one mention of this in recent SACSCOC submissions. By examining the role of institutional strategy, data use, and planning in QEP development, this research explores how HSIs might better align their efforts with the needs of Hispanic students. In addressing these gaps, the study offers a deeper understanding of how HSIs can integrate servingness into their QEP processes to promote more equitable educational outcomes.