Best Start

Lone Star College wants to help you gain your BEST START toward completing your college degree. Begin your path to success with four easy steps…

1. Set a goal
2. Make a plan
3. Get connected (with faculty, advisor or counselor)
4. Get involved (Join campus organizations and volunteer)

Best Start is also our QEP

• BEST START is Lone Star College's QEP
• A QEP or Quality Enhancement Plan is an important required component for our college system's SACS accreditation process.
• The plan involves a specific set of instructional activities designed to enhance our current efforts to help more students succeed. Helping our first-time-in-college (FTIC) students be more successful is a major focus right now and we call that "Best Start".

What is SACS?

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is the regional body for the Accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The Commission's mission is the enhancement of educational quality throughout the region and it strives to improve the effectiveness of institutions by ensuring that institutions meet standards established by the higher education community that address the needs of society and students.

SACS serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the Commission on Colleges that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees. The Commission also accepts applications from other international institutions of higher education.

Why is Accreditation so important?

Accreditation sets us apart! Accreditation is an important way that Lone Star College can prove that it offers a quality education. Accreditation means the school has been approved by a non-government agency that reviews schools in a region. To become Accredited, institutions and programs must demonstrate that they meet standards established by the accrediting agency. This rigorous process takes years to accomplish.

Accreditation is a voluntary process. While an unaccredited provider may provide worthwhile courses (particularly if a degree is not important to you), you don't have the assurance of this external review.

Why Now?

We are up for re-Accreditation. LSCS will be judged in 12 general areas during the Accrediting process: curricula; faculty; facilities, equipment and supplies; fiscal and administrative capacity; student support services; program length, tuition and fees in relation to academic objectives; program length, tuition and fees in relation to credit received; student achievement (job placement, state licensing exams, etc); student loan repayments; student complaints; compliance with student aid rules and regulations; and miscellaneous (including recruiting, admissions practices, calendars, grading practices, advertising, etc.).

Resources

• Get help with what classes to take
• Transfer Information
• Get Financial Aid by filling out a FREE FASFA
• Student Services
• Student Activities
• Career Services

For questions, concerns, or more information about the LSCS Best Start program, please contact:

Dr. Cat O'Brien
Faculty Fellow, Best Start
281.290.3502

Stephanie Jones & Michel Zuch
Co-Chairs, LSC-CyFair

Darrin Rankin
Chair, LSC-Kingwood

Maureen Loiacano
Chair, LSC-Montgomery

Dorothy Dixon & Martha Whitley
Co-Chairs, LSC-North Harris

Pam Shafer
Chair, LSC-Tomball

Lawrence Brandyburg
Chair, LSC-University Park