Leading Change:Creating a Culture of Learning & Assessment

Presenters

Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham, Vice President for Student Affairs

Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Student Development

Dr. Dan Bureau, Director of Student Learning & Assessment

Presentation Outline

Communicating a vision of learning & assessment

Gaining division-wide support Moving from theory to practice Articulating a Vision for

Students: division-wide learning outcomes

Strategic changes in planning and reporting

Signs of culture change

Learning Outcomes

Participants will have the opportunity to: Recognize the process taken by the

University of Memphis’ Division of Student Affairs to infuse learning and assessment into the culture

Identify the role of a strategic, persistent leader in culture change

Apply the process of culture change to their own division/department

The Paradigm Shift

In the Beginning—Focus on student success. “Retention is Everybody’s Business.”

Books that made a difference in my Thinking

Good Practice in Student Affairs: Principles to Foster Student Learning (Blimling, Whitt and Associates;

Learning Reconsidered:… (NASPA/ACPA);

What Matters In College (Light); Leaving College: Rethinking

the Causes and Cures of Student Attrition (Tinto)

Student Learning

Student Learning Through Engagement and Involvement vs Students Learning Through Engagement and Involvement

Consultants

Hired Greg Blimling (past ACPA President) – who emphasized focus on learning not on counting

Vince Tinto (MIMSAC Speaker) Darby Roberts (Assessment)

Planning

New Vice President for Business and Finance emphasized planning before budget

Then Budget

Our focus pointed toward 2 things; focus on learning and planning dictating budget

Measuring Learning Outcomes

More consultation—Darby Roberts How would we measure learning? How would we know our

programs, resources, services made a difference?

Staff Struggle

Staff was still struggling with a) lack of understanding ; b) lack of commitment that change was real; c) comfort with the familiar; d) not much money.

But we did further clarify Mission and Goals

U of M Mission

University of Memphis Mission: The University of Memphis is a

learner-centered metropolitan research university providing high quality educational experiences while pursuing new knowledge through research, artistic expression, and interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship.

Student Affairs Mission

Student Affairs Mission Statement

Student Affairs Goals

Goals to increase student success, retention and graduation rates:  Deliver high quality cutting-edge programs and

services that promote and enhance student learning

Recruit and retain high quality staff Provide physical facilities conducive to learning

and discovery Develop partnerships and collaborations with

various constituencies that augment student learning

Develop communities that increase students’ sense of belonging and enjoyment of the university experience

Planning Before Budget

Instituted Planning Meetings Focused on Learning Objectives

(to aid in culture change) Prioritized Budget Needs

New Hire

Opportunity to Hire a Director of Student Learning and Assessment

EMBODYING THE CHANGE Phase 2:

A New Normal

Easing anxiety Building Relationships Skill building

The Assessment Group (TAG) On-line tutorials Individualized meetings Just-in-time information sessions

Collaborative process

A Vision for Students

Facilitated discussions on division-wide learning outcomes with all Deans & Directors and small task force

Allowed us to struggle with our common and unique contributions to student learning

Linked Planning to these Student Learning Objectives

A Vision for Students

Understanding and Managing

Self

Engaging Others in a Diverse

World

Succeeding as a Professional

Develop and apply knowledge of self, including personality, values, interests and aptitudes

Establish a connection to the University of Memphis

Apply academic and co-curricular content to real-world contexts through experiential learning

Develop integrity and make ethical decisions

Develop an inclusive and interactive community focusing on understanding and respect of individual and group differences

Identify, develop and articulate competencies necessary to succeed in one’s chosen field

Demonstrate autonomy and personal responsibility

Become engaged citizens locally and globally

Understand the importance of life-long learning

Enhance physical, psychological, interpersonal and spiritual well-being

Develop effective social change skills

Demonstrate effective leadership skills

Possess appropriate self-efficacy

Demonstrate civility Understand the concept of professional identity and develop appropriate professional behaviors

Planning DocumentDivisional

GoalDepartment GOAL(S) in support of Divisional

Goal

STRATEGIESSTUDENT LEARNING

OBJECTIVE(S)OTHER

OBJECTIVES ASSESSMENT

HOW ALIGNS WITH STUDENT

AFFAIRS VISION FOR STUDENTS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

NEEDED

Increase the number of students participating in key* co-curricular activities and programs *Be sure to note which activity/program will be affected

1. Create a student volunteer on-call program to increase the number of students participating in community service

1a. Register students interested in being notified about community service opportunities1b. Forward information about community opportunities to student list as they are sent by local agencies

Students will articulate how their participation in community service has made a difference in their lives and the lives of others

1a. Increase interest and involvement in community service programs1b. Enhance ties between the university and the community

1a. Track number of students that register and participate in program1b. Feedback from participating agencies1c. Student survey that includes open-ended response capturing student learning outcome

Engaging with Others in a Diverse World: Become engaged citizens and understand her/his place in the world as a world citizen; Have a commitment to community service

None

Planning

Learning Reconsidered (p. 28): Scope & Sequence charts “instills a sense of shared ownership and spirit of collaboration among educators [and] provides a reference tool that orients veteran and novice faculty and staff to a common structure.”

Analyzing our Progress

Scope & Sequence chart demonstrated how departments support each division-wide learning outcome

Used Planning Documents to populate

Imperfect process – not all strategies are created equal

Reality check

Understanding and Managing Self Engaging Others in a Diverse World Succeeding as a ProfessionalDevelop and apply knowledge of self, including personality, values, interests and aptitudesLEAD=10SHS=26, SHS=27, SHS=28, SHS=29, SHS=30, SHS=31, SHS=32SDS=41SSS=52, SSS=53 11(5)

Establish a connection to the U of M

RSO=7

GREEK=23

SHS=26, SHS=29, SHS=30

ResL=36

SDS=42

MA=44

SSS=52, SSS=54

ACSS=55, ACSS=56, ACSS=57

CRIS=60, CRIS=61

JEP=65 16(10)

Apply academic and co-curricular content to real-world contexts through experiential learningGREEK=24, GREEK=25SHS=27, SHS=28ResL=35MA=46CRIS=62

7(5)

Develop integrity and make ethical decisionsGREEK=22SHS=27, SHS=28, SHS=29, SHS=30ACSS=58JEP=64, JEP=65, JEP=66

9(4)

Develop an inclusive and interactive community focusing on understanding & respect of individual & group

differences

LEAD=14

GREEK=23

ResL=38

SDS=43

MA=46, MA=47

CPCC=67 7(6)

Identify, develop and articulate competencies necessary to succeed in one’s chosen fieldLEAD=12ResL=34SDS=40, SDS=41ESP=69TEST = 70

6(5)

Demonstrate autonomy and personal responsibility

SEA=9

LEAD=10

GREEK=22

SHS=26, SHS=27, SHS=28, SHS=29

ResL=36, ResL=38

SDS=39, SDS=40

SSS=52, SSS=53, SSS=54

ACSS=55, ACSS=58

JEP=64 17(9)

Become engaged citizens locally and globallyLEAD=13, LEAD=14ComSV=16MA=46ACSS=55

5(4)

Understand the importance of life-long learningLEAD=11, LEAD=12SHS=26, SHS=27, SHS=28SDS=39ACSS=58

7(4)

Enhance physical, psychological, interpersonal and spiritual well-being

SHS=26, SHS=27, SHS=28, SHS=29, SHS=30

MA=44

ACSS=55, ACSS=58

CRIS=59

CPCC=68 10(6)

Develop effective social change skillsLEAD=13SDS=43MA=47

3(3)

Demonstrate effective leadership skills

RSO=5

LEAD=11

SHS=29

MA=45, MA=46

SSS=54

6(5)

Possess appropriate self-efficacy

SHS=26, SHS=27, SHS=28, SHS=31, SHS=32

SDS=39, SDS=40

SSS=52, SSS=53, SSS=54

ACSS=55, ACSS=58

12(5)

Demonstrate civilityLEAD=14GREEK=23ResL=38SDS=39, SDS=43

5(4)

Understand professional identity; develop appropriate professional behaviors

RSO=6, SEA=8, SEA=9

LEAD=12

SHS=28

SDS=39, SDS=40, SDS=41

MA=45

CRIS=63 10(6)

Understand & Manag Self, unsp.

UC=2, UC=4

SAC=19

CHILD=33

ResL=37, CS=48, CS=49 7(5)

Engaging Others in a Diverse World, unsp.

UC=2, UC=3, UC=4

ComSV=15, ComSV=17, ComSV=18

ResL=37

CS=51 8(4)

Succeeding as a Professional, unsp.

UC=1, UC=2

SAC=20, SAC=21

GREEK=22

CS=49, CS=50, CS=51 8(4)

A Vision for Ourselves

Helped us realize we needed to articulate what was most important as a Division

Lead to a definition of our values by the Deans & Directors

Student Affairs Values

Learning Excellence Assessment Diversity Ethical Leadership Relationships Spirit

Mission

And while we’re at it – our mission is really a motto

Crafted a new mission Least popular decision!

Student Affairs Mission

The Mission of Student Affairs is to foster student learning and promote student success through engagement and involvement in community, academics, diversity and leadership.

Student Affairs Mission Statement:

LEARNING & ASSESSMENT 2.0

Phase 3

Maintenance and Advancement

Increasing Confidence Examining Procedures and Processes Institutional Priorities

Retention as funding focus Increased alignment to U of M Strategic Plan and DSA

Strategic Plan

Planning TracDat Consultation Provision of 26 Learning Outcomes Diversification of assessment methods

Planning document feedback Campus Labs

YOU?

Learning Outcomes

Participants will have the opportunity to: Recognize the process taken by the

University of Memphis’ Division of Student Affairs to infuse learning and assessment into the culture

Identify the role of a strategic, persistent leader in culture change

Apply the process of culture change to their own division/department

For more information see http://saweb.memphis.edu/sala/http://www.memphis.edu/studentaffairs/