practical application of cas self-assessment guides (sags) donna lee sullins and jami hall
TRANSCRIPT
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF CAS SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDES (SAGS)
Donna Lee Sullins and Jami Hall
Who are we?
Not experts…just practitioners
Jami HallDirector of Student Life
Student Programming
Donna Lee SullinsAssociate Director of Student Life
Student Conduct
Learning Outcomes
Participants will understand the purpose of voluntary self evaluation.
Participants will be aware of multiple approaches to using CAS Self-Assessment Guides on their campuses.
Participants will be able to outline the steps to use a CAS Self-Assessment Guide on their campuses.
Pre-test time!
What is CAS? What is a SAG? Has anyone done a SAG? How comfortable do you feel leading a
SAG review in your office?
Assessment you are currently doing
What is your office doing? Why? What goals are to be accomplished
in so doing? What are your hopes for collaboration?
What is ?
“Founded in 1979, The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) is the pre-eminent force for promoting standards in student affairs, student services, and student development programs.”- CAS
CAS has eight guiding principles that are concerned with student learning and the environmental conditions at institutions needed to in order to promote leaning and development.
Member groups: ACPA, ACUHO-I, ACUI, ASCA, NACA,NASPA, NIRSA, NODA…just to name a few
What is a SAG?
“An operational version of the CAS Standards and Guidelines designed to provide users with an assessment tool that can be used for self-study or self-assessment purposes. A SAG is available for each functional area for which a CAS standard exists.” – CAS
CAS standards use of auxiliary verbs “must” and “shall” that appear in bold print.
Guidelines use “may” and “should” appear in regular text.
SAG Review of Part 2. Program
SAG Review of Part 2. Program
8th Edition
7th Edition
How do you get a SAG?
www.cas.edu CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education (8th
edition) and the Self-Assessment Guides - CD = $300 CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education (8th
edition) = $85 Self-Assessment Guides - CD (all 43 functional areas) =
$255 Individual Self Assessment Guide(s) = $35 each
A few ways of doing things
Timeline Number of functional areas to evaluate Who’s on your team Implementation and review plan
Georgia Southern- Center for Student Leadership 2005
One semester to complete Group/Peer review Outside/Inside perspective Evidence collected as we went
Belmont University- New Student Programs 2007
One month to complete Individual review Outside perspective Hesitancy by office Most evidence collected first
Dalton State College- Office of Admission 2009
Lack of clear timeline when starting Lack of diversity in team member selection Lack of true desire to learn areas of needed improvement Irregular meeting times All this led to an incomplete review
Dalton State College-Office of Student Activities/Life 2010-2012 One year original timeline Cross Campus Team
Donna Lee Sullins, Student Life (2010-2012) Jami Hall, Student Life (2010-2012) Dr. Gina Kertulis-Tartar, Biology Faculty (2010-2012) Dr. Kent Harrelson, English Faculty (2010-2011) Dr. Christian Griggs, History Faculty (2011-2012) Kim McCroskey, OCIS (2010-2011) Kris Richardson, OCIS (2011) Ashley Baugh, Business Services (2012) Andrew Mailman, Student (2010) Ashley Lindsey, Student (2010-2011) Greg Ellis, Student (2012)
Review of 4 functional areas and the general SAG section by section Collect evidence as we go Once per month 3 hour meetings then later twice per month hour
and a half meetings
Why can’t we be friends?
Typical organization scheme for higher education
Student Life + Academic Affairs = Perfect Partners! Often a
(perceived?) disconnect
Share a common goal – student success
Perhaps a better organization plan is:
Collaborations = Success
President
Academic Affairs
Enrollment Services
Fiscal Affairs
Student Affairs
Questions to consider:
Who? Personality! Consider background & interests of individuals
What? Establishing role(s) of each member is
important Do you really want “yes” men and women?
When? Time commitment – frequency/duration
How? Dissemination of information/materials Amount covered in each meeting
Added validity and accountability Self assessment – but what does “self”
really mean? Internally driven Supports and encourages staff
development Develops a shared vision among various
constituents Post assessment follow through
Are recommendations considered? What are the changes made? Timeframe for changes?
Who benefits?
Students! All interested parties Creates
Open communication Sustainability Working relationships
Practice Time
Please get into groups of no larger than 10 by the following functional areas: Assessment Services Campus Activities Programs Housing and Residential Life Programs Multicultural Student Programs and
Services Orientation Programs
You will work on Part 1. Mission by accessing your office’s materials as best you can from the internet
Steps to get started tomorrow 1. Get your supervisor on board 2. Decide if done as a team or individually
a. Brainstorm area to be involved and key people to invite from those areas
b. Invite Committee members 3. Set a time frame 4. Decide your approach as a team 5. Get other staff members on board to provide
evidence and set deadline(s) 6. Create an action plan with timelines 7. Write a summary report (if you want to)
Worksheet B
Post test time!
What is CAS? What is a SAG? How comfortable do you feel leading a SAG review in your office?
References
Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. (2012). CAS professional standards for higher education
(8th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. (2012). Council for the advancement of standards in
higher education. Retrieved August 24, 2012. www.cas.edu.
Schuh, M. L., Upcraft, J. H., and Associates. (2001). Assessment practice in student affairs: An applications manual. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Upcraft, J. H. & Schuh, M. L. (1996). Assessment in student affairs: A guide for practitioners. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
