DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Transcription

1 STUDENTS SKILLS FOR SUCCESS Team, Dimension and Objectives Students who engage in learning opportunities to develop as T-shaped professionals are more likely to be successful contributors in their future careers and communities. The Division of Student Affairs is at the forefront of the strategic efforts to create an educational environment leading to on-time graduation of students who have developed skills and expertise in a specific field as well as the ability to collaborate and apply knowledge across disciplines with experts in other areas. a. Objective 3.1: Establish and market recognized pathways for the development of professional competencies through experimental and learning opportunities. b. Objective 3.2: Collaborate with University partners to provide students with methods for the demonstration, evaluation, and articulation of professional competencies. c. Objective 3.3: Collaborate with University partners to provide students with clear policies, practices, and programs that support on-time graduation. Membership Bethany Dragert, Spectrum Support Program (T-Team) Kerry Foxx, Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (co-chair, T-Team) Dan Hickey, Academic Support Center (On-Time Graduation) Tim Keady, Wellness (On-Time Graduation) Carrie McDowell, International Student Services (On-Time Graduation) Inge Meffert, Academic Support Center (T-Team) Amanda Metzger, Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (T-Team) Tarra Ognissanti, Center for Residence Life (T-Team) Heath Boice-Pardee, Associate Vice President (co-chair, On-Time Graduation) Sarah Pavia, Center for Campus Life (T-Team) Colette Shaw, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (On-Time Graduation) Darci Lane-Williams, Center for Women and Gender (T-Team)

2 SUMMARY OF MEETINGS Objectives 3.1 & 3.2: Meeting Date(s) September 9 September 16 September 22 September 26 October 7 October 17 October 20 October 21 October 28 November 18 December 19 Topics Discussed Welcomed new members; discussed evaluative tool and instructions; discussed training for delegates and how to recruit the delegates. Discussed updates from the steering committee; finalized evaluative tool and instructions and clarified our expectations/understanding of the purpose of the tool; finalized strategy for recruiting and training delegates inclusive of a presentation on 9/26 to admin leadership group. Assigned committee members to units in support of their delegates; reviewed draft of delegate training presentation; reviewed and finalized administrative leadership presentation; Presentation to Admin Leadership Team Discussed whether Margaret s house should be included in Units that are responsible for the tool; finalized delegate training presentation and assigned roles; discussed creation of a coaching guide for committee members when working with unit delegates. Finalized delegate training presentation; finalized examples document for the training; reviewed and finalized delegate assignments and coaching tool. Delegate Training #1 Discussed/evaluated the delegate training; prepared for next training. Delegate Training #2 Discussion: Next steps! Review: Mid-Year Report and discussion about budget/technology needs for FY 18. Objective 3.3: Meeting Date(s) October 28 November 7 Topics Discussed Discussed OTG Dashboard and ongoing data collection Reviewed OTG draft, data input, and ways to integrate OTG strategies moving forward

3 WORK COMPLETED Objectives 3.1 & 3.2 In general, the T-Shaped sub-committee s primary deliverables were related to the execution of a process designed to evaluate the current state of competency-based education in the division. To that end, we Objective 3.1: Establish and market recognized pathways for the development of professional competencies through experimental and learning opportunities. 1. Finalized construction of the evaluative tool and associated instructions; 2. Presented to divisional leadership about the team s work generally, the evaluative tool, and associated unit-level expectations; 3. Solicited staff to serve as departmental delegates to support their units completion of the evaluative tool and achieved 100% representation; and, 4. Delivered two training sessions for departmental delegates achieving 100% participation. Objectives 3.3 The OTG sub-committee worked to take preliminary data collected last year to develop a draft of an OTG dashboard. Operationalizing this task was challenging, but by the end of the semester we determined a path that: 1. Identified how to interpret Policies, Programs, and Practices for programs throughout the division. 2. Created a draft dashboard that by midyear is about 75% complete. 3. Identified that as a strategy, the subcommittee must rely on the University OTG report issued by the Provost.

4 WORK IN PROGRESS Objectives 3.1 & 3.2 Currently, we are working to support departmental delegates who are charged with overseeing the completion of the evaluative tool within their units. Each team member is assigned to support several units; and, we check-in monthly on pre-determined dates. Team member Kerry Tarra Department Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement International Student Services Margaret s House Delegate Kerry Foxx Residence Life Ericka Smith-Schubart (Marc Goldman is the back-up) Jessica Ecock Rob Eckhardt Conduct College Restoration Program Campus Life Sarah Recreation and Intramurals Assessment, Technology, Communication ASC Inge English Language Center Religious Life Susan Joseph Deanna LaManna Eric Pope (Carol Reed is back-up) David Stevens Jodi Boita Inge Meffert, Stacy NationKnapper Stan Van Horn and Kris Mook Craig Swanson and Jill Bradway Center for Women and Gender Counseling and Psychological Services Athletics Darci Lane-Williams Raquel Bateman Bethany Spectrum Support Center Disability Services Office Student Health Bethany Dragert Shelley Zoeke Jill Travers Amanda Parent and Family Programs Student Wellness Wellness Instructional Program Chelsea Petree, Director Tim Keady Seann McArdle Darci Becky Stryker

5 Objective 3.3: Currently, we are working to finalize the draft of the OTG Dashboard and have divided areas as follows: Team member Heath Dan Departments Athletics ATC ELC Marg. House Religious Life Residence Life Academic Support Center Spectrum Support Program College Restoration Program International Student Services Colette Tim Campus Life Leadership and C. Engagement Parent & Family Conduct CWAG CAPS DSO Rec & Int. Student Health Wellness

6 WORK PLANNED FOR SPRING Objectives 3.1 & 3.2 The deadline for receipt of the evaluative tool from units is February 1. Following receipt of the tool(s), we will spend much of the Spring semester working alongside ATC to analyze the data received and determine next steps. In particular, we are looking at similarities and differences between the language units utilize when describing competency-based learning as well as best (or promising) practices in the evaluation, articulation and demonstration of competencies currently in use across the division. Based on our analysis of the data, we will determine our plan of action for FY 18 which may include student/staff training opportunities and professional development opportunities for members of the committee and division. Objective 3.3: Once we have a complete draft of the OTG we will share with departments to confirm content. Now that the Provost s report on OTG has been distributed, the group will review and determine intersections between our collective goals. Next, we will determine strategy for reviewing Policies, Practices, and Programs with all involved to move the targets toward supports. RESOURCES NEEDED (HUMAN/FISCAL/TECHNOLOGY/SPACE) Objectives 3.1 & 3.2: Funding requests are designed with two primary goals in mind: increasing knowledge/understanding among divisional staff of the T generally AND supporting the development of T competencies among a target group of students within the division: front-line student employees. The complexity of the T generally and its implementation specifically is evidenced by extensive research in the area especially by scholars like Dr. Phil Gardner: a leader in the career services field and an expert on the T. The committee strongly believes that effectively implementing the T (competency-based education) in the Division will require all of us to be on the same page about (a) what it is/represents (inclusive of a common-language), (b) why it s important, and (c) how to effectively implement its pedagogical practices into our day-to-day work with students. To this end, we are requesting funding to bring an expert on the T to campus to give a lecture and speak with the divisional T team and other stakeholders (inclusive of the University team, Co-Op and Career Services, and others). The committee also believes that integration of the T into the day-to-day operations of units across the Division must be viewed as: a. Helpful to individual units with regard to their day-to-day business practices (not an

7 add-on); b. Impactful to the professional development of students; and, c. Situated such that it touches the majority of units across the division. With these beliefs in mind, the committee recommends focusing our efforts on front-line student employees across the Division with the longer-term vision of shifting divisional culture such that these positions are viewed as professional positions. This new philosophy would mean that student employees across the division are trained, work hard, and are evaluated on their performance based on agreed-upon metrics. Based on feedback from the committee, we believe that customer service is a topic that could be the focus of a training series that is consistent across the division in FY 18. The topic is relevant to the work front-line students are doing in units AND the skills will serve them well post-graduation. Budget Request On-Campus Consultant/Speaker Amount $ (+/-) Student Employee Training Series: Front Desk Staff $ (+/-) Total Request Explanation Presentation and workshop with Dr. Phil Gardner, Executive Director of the Career Services Network and Director of the Collegiate Employment Research at Michigan State. Recommend presentation at divisional meeting followed by meetings with T-subcommittee and divisional leadership. Potential partnership w/ University T-team and Co-op and Career services. Funding will cover honorarium, travel, lodging, and meals. Pilot series focused primarily on development of customer service competencies among divisional front-line student employees. Recommend trainings occur once a month in the Fall. Funding will cover light refreshments at each training and any required materials. Supervisors would be invited (and welcome) to attend as well. $4,500

8 Objectives 3.3 The OTG subcommittee is down one member, Carrie McDowell, due to maternity leave. At this time she is not planning on returning to RIT so a new representative would be beneficial to our small team. METRICS PLAN Objectives 3.1 & 3.2: 1. Report about language used in the Division with regard to competencies. We will pay particular attention to similarities and differences in the language used to describe student learning. 2. Report about high-impact practices around the division with particular emphasis given to those practices that have clear (and mutually understood) evaluative procedures in place. 3. Report on alignment between the divisional competencies identified by units and any alignment with the University-level list. Objective 3.3: 1. Report on policies that support, remain neutral, or discourage OTG. 2. Report on practices that support, remain neutral, or discourage OTG. 3. Report on programs that support, remain neutral, or discourage OTG. 4. Report on alignment between Student Affairs OTG dashboard and University s OT report.