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COMPLIANCE WITH ESTABLISHED STANDARDS
Compliance With Established Standards
Certain student support areas of RMU are members of industry trade groups that have established standards to govern the quality of the services offered to students. RMU's Office of Student Life has been very proactive in embracing the standards established by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) for various aspects of student life. CAS provides standards for 40 functional areas of student support services including alcohol and drug programs, career services, orientation programs, and many other areas.
Evaluation of conformance with CAS Professional Standards is done through an internal self-study (rather than independent third-party audit) of a particular department or functional area. The Outcomes Assessment Plan (2001 Plan and 2007 Plan) for Student Life involves a number of measures, including a periodic review of its functions, services and department responsibilities. The Office of Student Life began using the CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education in 2001. Each year Student Life identifies 1, 2 or 3 areas to review. The reviews involve establishing a small committee to include, staff, faculty, students, and external colleagues as appropriate.
During the CAS Review, the committee reviews all services, resources, and website information, interviews relevant staff, students, and faculty, and, using the standards, ranks the various categories. A report is written by the committee which provides strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for improvement. The report is included in Student Life's annual report, and the recommendations are considered for one-year goals, five-year goals, and beyond. Of the 40 standards, RMU has completed 14, and plans 2- reviews during academic year 2011-12.
Not all CAS standards relate to Student Life (e.g.: CAS 01, Academic Advising, CAS 02, Admissions Programs, CAS 21, International Student Programs). Student Life focuses only on those that have a direct service impact in its area of responsibility.
To date, Student Life has completed 14 CAS reviews. Please note that the date in parentheses is the date the review was completed. Several were started in a previous year and carried over until completion, which explains the number completed in Summer 2005.
CAS 04: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Programs (Summer 2011)
CAS 09: Campus Religious and Spiritual Programs (Summer 2005)
CAS 10: Career Services (Summer 2005)
CAS 16: Counseling Services (Fall 2005)
CAS 18: Disability Support Services (Summer 2005)
CAS 22 Fraternity and Sorority Advising Programs (Spring 2008)
CAS 25: Housing and Residential Life Programs (Spring 2010)
CAS 28: Learning Assistance Programs (Summer 2005)
CAS 29: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Programs and Services (Summer 2010)
CAS 31: Multicultural Student Programs and Services (Fall 2008)
CAS 33: Recreational Sports Programs (Summer 2005)
CAS 36: Student Conduct Programs (Fall 2003)
CAS 37: Student Leadership Program (Spring 2011)
Plans for upcoming reviews include:
CAS 32: Orientation Programs (with Enrollment) (Academic Year 2011-12)
CAS 33: Recreational Sports Programs (Academic Year 2011-12)
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