determining your organization’s value
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DeterminingYour Organization’s Value
Jane S. HalonenUniversity of West Florida
A Consultation with Association of College Honor Societies
February 7, 2014
“Assessment” and dessert may not be a good mix
High Risk Luncheon Talk
Postmodern life in higher education requires ◦ Continuous
improvement◦ Performance
standards◦ Assessment of
impact◦ Benchmarking
Why bother (in general)?
Postmodern Assessment Drivers
Legislative Mandates (e.g., Florida’s ALCs)Institutional Accreditation (e.g., SACS)Program-specific Accrediting Organizations Internal Practices (e.g.,QEPs)Institutional Budgeting & PlanningAcademia need to control its destinyDo the Right Thing for the Right Reason
Postmodern Assessment Climate • Formal standards have been emerging in disciplines for the past decade • Co-curriculum not quite under the same mandate, but organizations recognize “positioning” for resources and profile
Never doubt that a small groupof thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
~Margaret Mead
◦ Continuous improvement helps maintain vigor
◦ Communication of great results builds pride and development potential
◦ Honors organizations uniquely positioned to provide elevator success stories to key campus figures
Why bother (in specific)?
Strive to help campus catch “good-to-great” disease
Need good stories with good evidence of quality for PR and “advancement”
College Officials
Taxonomy of Faculty Reactions to Assessment
Faculty NotAlways Thrilled
Session 1: Put assessment of honors organizations in
context Identify relevant assessment dimensions of
target performanceSession 2: Design strategies to optimize evidence of
quality and impact strategicallyOverall: Move your taxonomic status in a positive
direction
Goals for Today:
Time Out for Some Reminiscing…
• Why is the existence of an honors program important?• To the honoree (and significant others)• To the chapter administration• To the campus• To the host community• To the parent organization
Critical Questions Driving Assessment Decisions
What impact did your own honor society experience have on your development?
And as a warm up for Session 2: What tangible evidence would help
“capture” that impact?
In pairs, trios, or tables
• Higher caliber students for entire campus• Retention 6/year persistence rate often much higher for Honors• Intellectual and social enrichment of the campus• Social enrichment of the community through service• Personalized attention (the small College within the large university feel)• Community of like-minded individuals• Donation and development opportunities• A constant source of exemplary student performance • Faculty/student interactions/mentoring opportunities• Student Leadership & involvement on campus• Active and effective alumni base
Overall Value of an Honors Society
Why should Honors be funded? (Or be worthy of any other campus resource)?
What kind of evidence makes a compelling case?
What strategies can promote success?
Critical Questions Driving Assessment Decisions
Leadership Transience Student Caliber Variability Size of Chapter Scope of Effort (recognition only or larger
scope?) Motive for Measurement (requirement,
growth, or recognition?) Level of Analysis
The Challenges of Applying Evidence Strategies to Honors Organizations
Student Growth Advisor Quality Chapter Quality Board Quality Society Quality Society Leadership Quality
(you can begin to see out assessment possession
is within reach…)
Level of Analysis
Many of you are engaged in evidence generation already in response to◦ Campus reporting requirements◦ Chapter annual reports
But is your evidence of quality --pro forma or compelling?
--efficient or time intensive? --read by anyone but the evidence gatherer?
“And the Survey Says…”
Campus Profile ◦ yours versus other honor societies on campus
National Profile ◦ yours versus other chapters in the honor society
The Big Question:Does ACHS wish to invest in distinguishing
high quality performers from just functional ones?
Benchmarking Adventures
Seems like a good point for a break..
On return, we will --briefly discuss value of rubrics--organize by chapter size to share strategies that are most effective
Session 2:Finding and UsingEffectiveness Evidence
Let’s get started…
Methods Best Suited to Honor Societies
DIRECT MEASURES
Archival Data◦ Induction Numbers◦ Attendance Figures◦ Scheduled Events◦ $ Raised◦ # of Collaborations◦ # Service Projects
Performance Rubrics
INDIRECT MEASURES
Satisfaction Surveys◦ Inductees◦ Parents◦ Faculty in Related
Discipline◦ Service Learning
Beneficiaries
Reflection Papers
Handouts provide existing strategies already in play
Rubric Exemplars
Share ideas about what works well in evidence gathering what new directions might be optimal communication strategies that exploit gains
Scribe needed to capture key ideas.Spokesperson needed to provide report.
At your table
Keep it SIMPLE!
--feasible --manageable --transparent --measurable
Whatever you decide…
What do the data say about the strength and weaknesses of your target?
How can we capitalize on the strengths (showcase activities)?
How can we redress areas of weakness? What challenges inhibit performance?
Closing the Loop:The Assessment Cycle
Set improvement goals at a static but reasonable level? (e.g., 1% improvement over last year’s metrics)
Compare your achievements to other comparable groups
(this is where a bold move on ACHS’ part could help capture attention…)
Gauging Progress through Benchmarking
ACHS could provide a “seal” of exemplary performance for honor societies that would
--increase ACHS profile with campus administrators--provide shorthand for high quality
performance--potentially increase interest in getting more
ACHS members of high caliber on campus
Exemplary Chapter Status
Time to Evaluate this Session
Take a moment and write down the most important insight gained from our time together.
Estimate how likely you are to make a change.
Identify where you are taxonomically.
ASSESSMENT HOSTILE RESISTANT NEUTRAL ENTHUSED ENERGIZED POSSESSED
Thanks for coming. [especially with Bourbon Street
calling your name] jhalonen@uwf.edu
Questions or Comments?
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