Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #1: a program of student support services appropriate to student strengths and needs, reflective of institutional mission, consistent with student learning expectations, and available regardless of place or method of delivery;

1. How does the institution define student services?
2. How does the institution describe/define its student population?
3. How do the services, programs, and facilities contribute to student learning on campus, at the Centers, and with Distance Learning?

Student Handbook, CCAC Catalog, CCAC web site, and  College Plan Bottom Lines, CCAC College Administrators’ Report, Sept. 30, 2002, Non-returning Student Report, Exit Survey     

Reports, Graduate Survey Reports, College Plan and student service office usage logs

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #2: qualified professionals to supervise and provide the student support services and programs;

1. What are the qualities the institution requires in its student services staff members?
2. How does the institution select staff members for the student services area?

Job descriptions, credentials, AFT contract, SEIU contract

Interviews with student service directors to determine qualities desired in staff that are not addressed in job descriptions

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #3: procedures to address the varied spectrum of student academic and other needs, in a manner that is equitable, supportive, and sensitive, through direct service or referral;

1. How does the institution determine the appropriateness (equitable, supportive, and sensitive) of student services?  How are services adapted to special populations?
2. How is student usage and satisfaction of services measured?
3. How does the institution determine if the needs of all categories of students are being met?  How are referrals made to internal and external services?  How is the sensitivity of these referrals handled?

Student Satisfaction Surveys

Exit Surveys

Graduate Surveys

Professional Development offerings for staff

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #4: appropriate student advisement procedures and processes;

1. How does the institution determine that advisement services are appropriate to the populations served within the college?
2. How are student needs assessed within the advisement services?  How does the institution determine if students are placed in programs appropriate to their interests and skills?
3. How is student satisfaction with advisement services measured?
4. How are advisement professionals selected; how are they trained and evaluated?

Student Satisfaction Survey

Random Sampling of Students

Program code reports

Placement testing

AFT contract

Graduation rates compared to national norms.

Interviews with Registration Directors

Advisor Training Programs

Advisor Manuals

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #5:  athletic programs that are regulated by the same academic, fiscal, and administrative principles, norms, and procedures that govern other institutional programs;

1. Are athletic programs regulated in a manner comparable to other institutional programs?  How does the institution demonstrate that they are handled in a comparable manner?
2. Is there gender equity within college athletics?  How do demonstrate that there is equity?
3. How do the retention and graduation rates of student athletes compare to the general student population?  What are the academic supports provided to student athletes?

Student Satisfaction Survey

Random Sampling of Students

Program code reports

Placement testing

AFT contract

Graduation rates compared to national norms.

Interviews with Registration Directors

Advisor Training Programs

Advisor Manuals

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #6:  reasonable procedures, widely disseminated, for equitably addressing student complaints or grievances;

1. What are the policies and procedures for student complaints or grievances?
2. How does the institution demonstrate that the policies and procedures are current and appropriate to the student population?
3. How does the institution publicize its student complaint procedures?  How does the institution determine if students have reasonable access to this information?

Standard 6, Integrity: Fundamental Element #1: fair and impartial processes, published and widely available, to address student grievances, such as alleged violations of institutional policies. The institution assures that student grievances are addressed promptly, appropriately, and equitably;

Student Handbook

CCAC web site

Student Orientation

Smart Start

Student Development courses

Governance Process

Student Satisfaction Survey.

Student Orientation

Case studies comparing CCAC procedures to those at other similar institutions

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #7:  records of student complaints or grievances;

1. Describe the institution’s procedures for maintaining records of student complaints and grievances.  How does the institution determine if these procedures are appropriate? 
2. How is the level of security determined and maintained?  For how long are these records maintained?

Dean of Students’ files

Interviews with Deans of Students

Interviews with Academic Deans

Interview with CCAC’s legal council

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #8:  policies and procedures, developed and implemented, for safe and secure maintenance of student records;

1. Is the institution in compliance with FERPA and other privacy legislation?

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

Review security classes on COLLEAGUE

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #9:  published and implemented policies for the release of student information;

1. How does the institution assess its compliance with policies and procedures regarding the release of student information?
2. Describe how policies and procedures are disseminated to students.  Do these procedures serve all categories of students within the credit and noncredit programs?

Staff involvement with professional associations and  conferences

Review code of ethics supplied by professional organizations

Interview with Supportive Services Staff, Financial Aid staff and Continuing Education Directors in special needs Programs

College Catalog, CCAC web site, Student Handbook, Credit, Professional Development programs, Guidelines for CCAC Security staff

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #10: ongoing assessment of student support services and utilization of assessment results for improvement;

1. What assessment process is used in the evaluation of student support services?
   What types of professional development activities occur to educate staff on appropriate assessment methods?
2. How are assessment results utilized?  How do we determine that assessments are adequate?

College Plan, First Year Assessment, and Student

Satisfaction Survey

Profession Development (Customer Service Programs)

College Plan, First Year Assessment, Interviews with  Student Service Professional and Support Staff

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Integrity, Fundamental Element #4: equitable and appropriately consistent treatment of constituencies, as evident in such areas as student discipline, student evaluation, grievance procedures, faculty promotion, tenure, retention and compensation, administrative review, curricular improvement, and institutional governance and management;

1. How does CCAC assure consistent treatment of all students…?
2. How does CCAC assure that all governance and management is performed with fairness and consistency in mind?

Student Handbook

Student Satisfaction Survey results

Interviews with Deans of Students

Records of student grievance procedures and results