CAS Standards Overview

CAS Standards Overview

Adapted from the Council for Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS)

Key Terms and Definition

·      3 Fold Purpose

o   to foster and enhance student learning and development

o   to recognize and promote fundamental and indispensable standards of practice and the assessment of related programmatic and student outcomes

o   to promote a foundation to development, guide, assess, and improve programs and services

·      Domains

o   Knowledge acquisition, construction, integration, and application

o   Cognitive complexity

o   Intrapersonal development

o   Interpersonal competence

o   Humanitarianism and civic engagement

o   Practical competence

Key Tenets of the Theory

·      Part One: Mission

o   Programs and services must develop, disseminate, implement, and regularly review their missions, which must be consistent with the mission of the institution and with applicable professional standards

o   Missions must reference student learning and development

·      Part Two: Program

o   Programs and Services must be

§  Intentionally designed

§  Guided by theories and knowledge of learning and development

§  Integrated into the life of the institution

§  Reflective of developmental and demographic profiles of the student population

§  Responsive to the needs of individuals, populations with distinct needs, and relevant constituencies

§  Delivered using multiple formats, strategies, and contexts

§  Designed to provide universal access

·      Part Three: Organization and Leadership

o   Programs and Services must have clearly stated and current

§  Goals and outcomes

§  Policies and procedures

§  Responsibilities and performance expectations for personnel

§  Organizational charts demonstrating clear channels of authority

·      Part Four: Human Resources

o   Programs and services must be staffed adequately by individuals qualified to accomplish mission and goals

·      Part Five: Ethics

o   Programs and services must

§  Review applicable professional ethical standards and must adopt or develop and implement appropriate statements of ethical practice

§  Publish and adhere to statements of ethical practice and ensure their periodic review

§  Orient new personnel to relevant ethical standards and statements of ethical practice and related institutional policies

·      Part Six: Law, Policy, and Governance

o   Programs and services must be in compliance with laws, regulations, and policies that relate to their respective responsibilities

o   Must have access to legal advice need for personnel to carry out their assigned responsibilities

·      Part Seven: Diversity, Equity, and Access

o   Must create and maintain educational and work environments that are welcoming, accessible, inclusive, equitable, and free from harassment

·      Part Eight: Internal and External Relations

o   Programs and services must reach out to individuals, groups, communities, and organizations internal and external to the institution to

§  Establish, maintain, and promote understanding and effective relations

§  Garner support and resources for programs and services as defined by the mission

§  Collaborate in offering or improving programs and services to meet the needs of students and other constituents, and to achieve program and student outcomes

§  Engage diverse individuals, groups, communities, and organizations to enrich the educational environment and experiences of students and other constituents

§  Disseminate information about the programs and services

·      Part Nine: Financial Resources

o   Programs and services must have funding to accomplish the mission and goals

o   Must conduct comprehensive analyses to determine

§  Unmet needs of the unit

§  Relevant expenditures

§  External and internal resources

§  Impact on students and the institution

·      Part Ten: Technology

o   Programs and services must have technology to support the achievement of their mission and goals

·      Part Eleven: Facilities and Equipment

o   Programs and services’ facilities must be intentionally designed and located in suitable, accessible, and safe spaces that demonstrate universal design and support the program’s mission and goals

·      Part Twelve: Assessment

o   Programs and services must develop assessment plans and processes

o   Must articulate an ongoing cycle of assessment activities