Standards that Spark

1. Standards that Spark Beth Eppinger Director of Housing and Residential Life University of Arkansas – Fort Smith SWACUHO 2018

2. Learning Outcomes • Explore the CAS Standards and ACUHO-I Professional Standards and Ethical Principles and their role in planning, decision making, and evaluation • Understand the difference between a guideline and a standard within the ACUHO-I Standards • Learn ways to share information about ACUHO-I standards and CAS with staff members • Learn ways to utilize the standards and self-assessment guide on small and large campuses

3. Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Standardswww.cas.edu • Since 1979 • 45 functional Student Affairs areas including Education Abroad Programs and Services, Financial Aid Programs, Campus Activities Programs, and Housing and Residential Life Programs • Newer Areas: Student Media Programs and Internship Programs • Collaboration with at least 12 organizations including ACUHO-I • 12 Criteria Categories which have standards, specialty standards, and guidelines

4. CAS Criteria Categories Diversity, Equity, and Access Internal and External Relations Financial Resources Technology Facilities and Equipment Assessment and Evaluation • Mission • Program • Organization and Leadership • Human Resources • Ethics • Law, Policy, Governance

5. Housing and Residential Life ProgramsCAS • HRLP standards must apply to residence halls, apartment communities, and other Facilities that are managed or owned by private operators whenever there is a formal relationship with the institution. • Any off-campus housing services should include referrals to available off-campus housing listings and information about leases, landlord/tenant law, local ordinances, local crime statistics, community resources, and other related information. • HRLP must develop, disseminate, implement, and regularly review their missions. The mission must be consistent with the mission of the institution and with professional standards. The mission must be appropriate for the institution's student populations and community settings. Mission statements must reference student learning and development.

6. ACUHO-I Standards • Mission • Functional Areas • Business/ Management (9 sub-areas) • Student Learning and Development (6 sub-areas) • Residential Facilities • Food Service Dining Services • Emergency Preparedness Crisis Management • Public-Private Partnerships (5 sub-areas) • Ethics • Ethical Hiring Practices for Housing Professionals • Qualifications http://acuho-i.org/knowledge-resources/standards/acuho-i?portalid=0

7. Standard vs. Guideline “The Standards provide a compendium of best practices that all colleges and universities operating student housing are strongly encouraged to use regularly. Guidelines are in italic font indicating practices and or policies that are recommended.” • Standard: Adequate and appropriate internal controls are in place to ensure full accountability of financial processes. • Guideline: Rate increases are announced well in advance of their implementation.

8. Functional Areas: Business/ Management • Planning • Personnel • Accounting/ Finance • Purchasing/ Property Management • Contracts/ Lease Agreements • Service Delivery • Conference Administration • Evaluation • Information Technology

9. Standards from the Personnel section of Business/ Management • There must be at least one professional staff member responsible for the administration/coordination of the department. This person must be knowledgeable about the goals and mission of the program. • An organizational chart defines both the responsibilities and relationships of staff members with the understanding that managers should emphasize fluidity, adaptability and cross-functional collaboration. • A written job description is provided to each employee. • Training, supervision, evaluation and resources to accomplish assigned tasks are provided each staff member. • A written performance appraisal is provided to each employee at least annually. • 33 more standards for just this section

10. Functional Areas: Student Learning and Development • Planning and Assessment • Academic Initiatives • Personal Development • Community Development • Community Development: Policy and Procedures • Advising

11. Standards from the Community Development section of Student Learning and Development • Help new students to connect with their institution by connecting them to other residents and staff and developing a sense of personal comfort. • Introduce and orient residents to community expectations, facilities, services, emergency and safety protocols. • Provide residence environments that reinforce the need for self-respect, respect of others and property. • Provide community service opportunities. • 7more standards for just this section

12. Functional Areas: Residential Facilities • 12 standards with 6 guidelines • Facilities create a welcoming environment that provides adequate spaces to ensure privacy during meetings involving sensitive information and provides resources for both routine and mission critical operational tasks. • Facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities and in compliance with relevant national and local standards and laws and local health and safety requirements. • 9 general minimum standards with 5 guidelines • Where provided, public, common, study, and recreational areas are adequately furnished to accommodate the number of residents who use them. • Adequate information technology resources will be made available to all students.

13. Functional Areas: Dining services In campus operations where food service is a part of or related to the housing program, the purposes of food service are to provide high quality, nutritious meals at a reasonable cost and to support the educational mission of the campus. When possible partnerships with organic and local vendors should be established to improve quality, reduce transportation cost and support the local economy.

14. Functional Areas: Crisis management • Ensure thorough planning documents and protocols exist through annual audits that identify, report, and respond to potential risks. • Ensure a well-developed Business Interruption Plan (BRP) for housing-related services exists. • Fully participate in campus crisis management planning, training, and evaluation. • Take campus leadership role in defining what an emergency is. • Ensure evacuation plans are inclusive of students with disabilities or those who become disabled during an emergency. • Work with campus legal counsel on the development of interagency agreements, memorandums of understanding, crisis response, and business continuity of operations.

15. Functional Areas: Public-Private Partnerships • Planning and Personnel • A set of measurable project objectives is established. • Procurement/ Purchasing • The procurement plan allows for flexibility and negotiation. • Transaction Structure • Financial terms for the project are established. • Development • A suitable site is identified and meets legal, policy requirements and project objectives. • Governance/ Oversight • Responsibility for the project development as well as operational management once the building is occupied is established.

16. Uses of the Standards • Program Evaluation • Campus or Department Self/Internal Review • External Review • Staff Training • Graduate Preparation Programs • Assessment • Establishing benchmarks and best practices • Goal setting and strategic planning

17. Self-Assessment Guide The ACUHO-I Self-Assessment Guide (SAG) was developed for the purpose of putting the ACUHO-I Standards into a survey format. Standard Statements were converted into questionnaire form so that a survey could be administered to determine the extent to which a student housing organization meets the ACUHO-I Standards. • Translates ACUHO-I Standards into self-study format so you can: • Assure compliance with ACUHO-I Standards • Gain an informed perspective on strengths and deficiencies of a particular housing operation • Plan program improvement • Use in conjunction with an external review

18. Self Assessment Guide • Role of the Rater • Rating Scale • Assessment Criteria • Documentation

19. Rating Scale 1: Non-Compliance: None of the criteria within the standard under review has been met. 2: Minimal Compliance: A small portion of the criteria within the standard under review has been met. The information and documentation reviewed demonstrates some application of the ACUHO-I Standards & Ethical Principles. The department may need to conduct a thorough review of existing policies and practices. The evidence suggests that very few steps have been taken to meet the criteria within the standard, and current policies and practices are in need of improvement. 3: Partial Compliance: At least half of the criteria within the standard under review have been met. The information and documentation reviewed demonstrates an application and understanding of the ACUHO-I Standards & Ethical Principles. The department may require some additional planning, training and development in key areas within the standard to achieve full compliance. There is evidence that suggest a departmental commitment to meet the criteria within the standard in the future.

20. Rating Scale, continued 4: Substantial Compliance: Majority of the criteria within the standard under review has been met. The information and documentation reviewed demonstrates a purposeful use of the ACUHO-I Standards & Ethical Principles. The department may need to develop a plan to incorporate the remaining standards and principles into existing practices. There is evidence that suggest that systematic steps have been taken to utilize the criteria within the standard. 5: Full Compliance within the Standards: All of the criteria within the standard under review has been met or exceeded. The information and documentation reviewed demonstrates the full integration of the ACUHO-I Standards & Ethical Principles. The department provides comprehensive and effective uses of the standard as it relates to students, faculty, administrators and other stakeholders. There is evidence of a systematic effort to maintain and modify current practices so that they remain in alignment. Unknown: At this time an evaluation can’t be made based on the information or the lack of information provided. Not Applicable

22. Conducting a Self Study • Establish and Prepare the Self-Assessment Team • Begin the Self-Study review of the SAG individually and rate • Identify and summarize evaluative evidence • Review institutional data and resources • Identify discrepancies • Study team reviews their ratings discrepancies between the assessment criteria and practice and identify operational problems needing resolution • Determine Appropriate Corrective Action • Recommend Steps for Program Enhancement • Prepare an Action Plan • Identify and set priorities for future action and direction

23. Additional Uses of the Self Assessment Guide and Standards • Use the Self-Assessment Guide to survey the housing staff on an annual basis. Compare scores from one year to the next. • Use the Self-Assessment Guide to develop surveys to send out to other university departments. • Develop an exchange with a housing department on another campus. Several staff members from your institution use the Self-Assessment Guide to evaluate the other housing department and several staff members from the other department evaluate your department. • Solicit a group of faculty and staff from your institution to use the Self-Assessment Guide to evaluate your department. • Share findings with staff formally, informally, and at all levels. Explain why this is being done early and often. • Preparing for an external review

24. External Reviews • Reasons for an External Review • Things to Consider/Preparations • Timeline • Schedule • Who Will Be Involved • How to Prepare Staff and Campus Partners • Gathering Necessary Information for Review Team • How to Select a Review Team • Timeline • Cost • Agreements - Detailed in Writing

25. ACUHO-I Professional Standards Institute • Every summer prior to the annual ACUHO-I conference • Colorado College in Colorado Springs, July 4 – 7, 2018. • Deadline to register: sooner than later- only 20 spots! • $899 including lodging, meals, and registration materials • An intensive immersion experience designed to provide the participants with: • Exposure to the ACUHO-I Standards • The use of the ACUHO-I Self-Assessment Guide • Exposure to the CAS Standards • How to conduct an internal departmental self-review • How to prepare a department for an external review • How to serve as an external reviewer and conduct an external review

26. Action Plan • What is something new you learned during this presentation? • Devise one action item related to the ACUHO-I Professional Standards that you plan to complete in the next 45 days.  • Notecards with Name, Institution, Title, and Email

27. Questions? Thank You!