CAS Standards and Guidelines

Summary

In this mini lecture, Professor Gannon provides an overview of the CAST Standards and Guidelines, which are essential for higher education institutions. He explains the functional area sets of standards, the cross-functional frameworks, and the distinction between general and specialty standards. The lecture also covers the importance of self-assessment tools, recent revisions to the standards, and various approaches for departments to meet the standards. Additionally, he discusses the upcoming tenth edition and resources available on CAST's website and social media platforms.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The speaker, Gannon, is a professor and president of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, providing an overview of CAST standards and guidelines.
• 📚 CAST standards are sets of standards for various functional areas in higher education, currently totaling 45, with new ones like case management and sustainability being developed.
• 🔄 There are cross-functional frameworks that address issues transcending single functional areas, such as first-year experience programs and building healthy campuses.
• 📈 Standards are divided into general and specialty standards, with general standards applying across all areas and specialty standards specific to each area.
• 📊 The standards outline the minimum requirements for programs and departments, while guidelines suggest practices for enhancing performance beyond the basics.
• 🔑 There are 12 sections of general standards that are consistent across all functional areas, each with specific elements that may vary.
• 🔍 Self-assessment guides have been revised to align with the general standards, providing a structured approach to evaluating each standard.
• 🔗 The self-assessment process has been streamlined by clustering criterion measures and adding a narrative section to explain ratings.
• 🏫 For small offices or one-person departments responsible for multiple areas, CAST offers various approaches to managing multiple sets of standards.
• 🌐 CAST provides resources and a community through their website, social media, and YouTube, with the tenth edition of standards set to publish in spring 2019.
• 🔗 CAST also offers program review templates on Campus Labs for members, facilitating easier access to these tools.

Q & A

What is the primary role of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS)?

The primary role of CAS is to develop and maintain standards and guidelines for various functional areas in higher education to ensure quality and effectiveness in student affairs and services.

How many functional area sets of standards does CAS currently have?

CAS currently has 45 functional area sets of standards.

What are the two new functional area standards being developed by CAS as mentioned in the script?

The two new functional area standards being developed by CAS are on case management and sustainability.

What is the difference between general standards and specialty standards in CAS?

General standards are the standards that apply across all functional areas, appearing verbatim in every set of functional area standards. Specialty standards, on the other hand, are specific to a particular functional area.

What is the purpose of guidelines in the context of CAS standards?

Guidelines are meant to enhance practice beyond the essential functions outlined in the standards. They provide recommendations for programs or departments that wish to go beyond the minimum requirements.

How many sections are there in the general standards according to the script?

There are 12 sections in the general standards.

What is the significance of the term 'yellow plate' in the context of CAS standards?

The term 'yellow plate' refers to the general standards that are the same across all functional area standards, indicating that they apply universally regardless of the specific functional area.

How does CAS differentiate between standards and guidelines in terms of their importance and application?

Standards are indispensable and are the minimum requirements that every department or program should achieve, while guidelines are suggestions for enhancing practice and are not mandatory.

What is the purpose of self-assessment guides in the context of CAS standards?

Self-assessment guides are tools used in the self-study process to evaluate each of the standards within a functional area, helping institutions assess their compliance and quality of services.

What are the different approaches for small offices or one-person departments responsible for multiple sets of standards as discussed in the script?

The approaches include using only general standards, an ala carte approach where elements from different functional areas are combined, an individual standard approach where different sets are focused on in rotation, a limited comprehensive approach where some specialty standards are used alongside general standards, and a comprehensive approach where all standards from both general and specialty areas are used.

What is a cross-functional framework as mentioned in the script?

A cross-functional framework is a set of guidelines that transcend any one functional area and provide direction on issues that involve collaboration across departments in higher education.

When is the tenth edition of the CAS standards expected to be published?

The tenth edition of the CAS standards is expected to be published in the spring of 2019.