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.

Questions? To Contact us:

Donna Lee Sullins dlsullins@daltonstate.edu

Jami Hall jhall@daltonstate.edu