Congratulations on completing the self-assessment and external review! The final step in the comprehensive review is to apply the self-assessment and external review reports into a plan for action, with the goal of improving specific ratings for the next review.
Formulating an Action Plan
Typically, the assessment process will identify some areas where the program is not in compliance with the standards. Action planning designed to overcome program shortcomings and provide program enhancements must then occur. Following is an outline of recommended steps for establishing a comprehensive plan of action using the CAS self-assessment work forms. Space is provided in the Self-Assessment Guide for recording relevant information.
Identify Areas of Program Strength and Improvement (CAS SAG Work Form B)
- Identify criterion measure ratings where strengths in performance or accomplishment were noted (i.e., program exceeds criterion with a rating of 3).
- Identify criterion measures where program improvements (i.e., program shortcomings that fail to meet criterion measures, and received a rating of 0 or 1) were needed to meet standards.
Recommend Areas for Unit Action (CAS SAG Work Form C)
- Note items that need follow-up action for improvement. These include not only areas for improvement, but also areas of strength that might not persist without new actions.
- Include recommendations from both the self-assessment and the external review.
Prepare the Action Plan (CAS SAG Work Form D)
- Use the items requiring attention listed in Work Form C to formulate a brief action plan. The focus and intended outcomes of the next steps to be taken should be identified.
Write Action Plan (Comprehensive Departmental Review Action Plan.xls)
- Detail the relevant CAS criterion and/or external review recommendation.
- Detail each specific action from Work Form C, indicating the relevant review findings being addressed.
- Identify the resources necessary to address the action item.
- Categorize actions into lower and higher cost.
- Identify responsible parties to complete the action steps.
- Set dates by which specific actions are to be completed.
Closing the Loop
Finally, to close the loop on a department’s comprehensive review process, functional area staff members must implement the recommended changes to enhance the quality of their program. In this final step, the staff endeavors to put action plans into practice. In some cases, there will be institutional politics to be navigated; continued support from functional area leaders remains essential. Staff members will want to work collectively to allocate resources, identify barriers to implementation, and build stakeholder buy-in to the results. CAS recommends that closing the loop on a self-assessment process be integrated into regular staff meetings, individual supervision, trainings, and annual reports. A key to successfully using comprehensive review in post-secondary student services is weaving the entire process, from planning through taking action, into the fabric of the functional area, departmental, and divisional culture.
Progress on an Action Plan should be presented annually to the reporting AVP. On the Action Plan, indicate the latest status and location of any supporting evidence. All lower cost improvements should be completed within one year prior to the start of the next 5-year comprehensive program review.