Dallas College

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

A Smart Start First Year Experience Program

Three people at an indoor event wearing badges and blue Dallas College caps, with a banner in the background.

About the QEP

The Dallas College QEP focuses on a Smart Start First Year Experience Program, which provides students with the necessary tools, resources and experiences to ensure a successful first year in their academic journey.

It is a formal five-year strategy focused on improving student learning outcomes and student success for first-time-in-college students.

QEP in Action

Dallas College logo
Closing Student Retention Gaps with a Smart Start and Early Momentum
Dallas College logo
Dallas College Named Bellwether Award Finalist for Student Care Network
Andrew Prichard standing in front of balloon sculpture of airplane and big D at Student Leadership Conference.
Inspiration, Connection and Moving Beyond the Comfort Zone: This Year’s Leadership Conference
Graphic with text: 2025 Student Success Collaborative Award Dallas College Winner Technology Pioneer
Dallas College Wins National Award for Innovation in Student Success

Student Support for a Smart Start

Students sit in a auditorium waiting for NSO to start

Smart Start – First-Time College Students

Dallas College offers tools and resources to help first-time-in-college students be set up for success.

Three students sitting outdoors on campus, holding notebooks and engaged in academic discussion

Ascender Program

Ascender is a free learning community open to first year, first-time-in-college students.

a student success coach helping a college student

Success Coaching

Formerly known as advisors, success coaches connect with students after they enroll at Dallas College to provide support and guidance. 

Smart Start Fast Facts – Year Zero (FY2024-2025)

9,310 first-time-in-college students enrolled at Dallas College
78% Increased first-time-in-college persistence
66+ employees identified to serve on the QEP implementation teams
49 in-person New Student Orientation sessions across all seven campuses
84.6% first-time-in-college students met with a success coach
63.8% increase in New Student Orientation in-person attendance

QEP Goals

  1. Increase first-time-in-college student academic success
  2. Increase first-time-in-college student engagement
  3. Increase first-time-in-college student career and academic planning 
Two individuals wearing North Lake athletic shirts holding snacks and drinks at a Dallas College event, with a Smart Start banner visible in the background.

QEP Components

  1. New Student Orientation
  2. First Year Experience Courses
  3. Math and English Early Interventions
  4. Quality Connections
  5. Frontloaded Career Consciousness
Student at a Dallas College Smart Start table with pom-poms, glow sticks, and an informational banner.

Timeline

  • Year Zero (FY24-25): Planning and piloting
  • Years One and Two (FY25-27): QEP launch and rollout
  • Years Three to Five (FY27-30): Scaling and refining

More Information About Dallas College

Updated January 27, 2026