OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2010 - 2011

Student Activities

Goal

Leadership Development And Cultural Awareness

Develop leadership skills among culturally diverse students and staff members.

Objective

Development: Leadership And Cultural Diversity

By participating in Student Activities, students and staff will develop the knowledge and skills associated with effective leadership and cultural diversity.

Indicator

Reunion Focus Groups For Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Participants

The post-trip focus groups will provide information regarding student awareness of diversity issues and participant satisfaction.

Criterion

75% Of Participants Will Indicate Growth

75% of student and staff participants will indicate a better appreciation for diversity issues.

Finding

90% Of Participants Reported Growth

90% of student and staff participants indicated more awareness of and appreciation for diversity issues after attending the Alternative Spring Break Trip. This information was self reported and based on topics discussed before, during and after the trip.

Indicator

Site Selection Survey For Alternative Spring Break Leaders And Participants

A survey addressing site selection needs for Alternative Spring Break trips will provide information regarding site functionality and student satisfaction.

Criterion

80% Of ASB Leaders/Participants Report Positive Results

80% of student leaders and participants in the Alternative Spring Break program will indicate that appropriate and functional trip sites were selected.

Finding

60% Of Leaders/Participants Reported Positive Results

60% of student leaders and participants in the Alternative Spring Break program reported that appropriate trip sites were selected; however, site functionality was less than desired. Trip location and work content was appropriate. Housing and site location logistics did not meet expectations.

Action

Provide Additional ASB Trips

With 90% of participants indicating growth after attending the Alternative Spring Break program, the trip effectiveness is clearly noted. As a result of assessment, participant feedback justifies the addition of a third trip. By providing three options for Spring 2012 ASB trips, more SHSU students will gain exposure to complex social and cultural issues through direct-service, experiential learning, group discussions, and personal reflection.

Action

Create Site Selection Guidelines Document

While the participants showed they were generally satisfied with the program site selection, there were valid concerns of site functionality in regards to housing and site logistics (site host contacts). Site selection process will begin at least 9 months in advance of trip to allow for more available options and time to contact references. As a result of participant feedback, site selection timeline and guidelines will be created to allow for a more detailed search (complete with clear definitions on housing and logistics).

Goal

Student Retention

Retain students through interactive programming.

Objective

Student Participation

Students who participate in Student Activities will stay engaged and connected with the university and will return to SHSU for another year. Thus, it is important to have a wide variety of student organizations.

Indicator

Update Report Of Student Organizations

The ORGLink database (online involvement system) maintaining student organization data gathered from online update forms will audit the number of student organizations.

Criterion

Registered Student Organizations

Have less than 10% inactive student organizations.

Finding

14% Inactive Student Organizations

There are 280 listed student organizations for FY11. 240 organizations registered with the university for FY11. Therefore, 14% of organizations were inactive.

Indicator

Student Organization Members Registered On ORGLink

Number of student organization members registered on ORGLink, the new online involvement system.

Criterion

Student Organization Members Registered On ORGLink

With initial implementation of ORGLink, have 60% of total organization membership registered on ORGLink. Organization members must be officially listed on organization ORGLink roster.

Finding

17% Of Student Organization Members Registered On ORGLink

Using the average membership of 8,063 during FY10, only 17% (1,340) of members are officially listed on ORGLink rosters for FY11.

Action

Implement Marketing, Recruitment And Education Plan

The initial implementation of ORGLink (online involvement system) has been completed, and students have verbally reported positive feedback for the system overall and its capabilities. Further action is needed to increase user involvement to entire organization membership. Generally, the officers are only getting involved. A comprehensive plan to address the marketing and education of ORGLink will be implemented during Fall 2011 by the Director of Leadership Initiatives.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement Student Activities strives to develop students holistically, thereby increasing their desire to remain engaged on campus. We hope to retain students and initiate and increase involvement across the SHSU campus. Through the Alternative Spring Break program, assessment shows that students increased their knowledge and appreciation for cultural and diverse issues. Staff and students' overwhelming positive feedback for the effectiveness of ASB also justified the need to increase further involvement through ASB diversity outreach opportunities in the coming year.

The implementation of ORGLink, our new online involvement system for registering student organizations and maintaining all organization data, has been completed. While initial education to student leaders was prolonged, general access to the system is now available to the entire campus and initial feedback is positive toward system capability. Data shows no major issues arose in transferring to online registration; yet, members are not engaging the system for full productivity. Initiatives should be taken to improve ORGLink educational opportunities to student leaders and allow for more consultation opportunities, utilizing the graduate assistant for student organizations. Extra attention will be given to marketing, implementing and training students, faculty and staff during the upcoming year. Educating the entire campus community on ORGLink and marketing the online system will increase usage and functionality to all areas of student organization management and will allow the Student Activities department to streamline both communication and marketing strategies to organizations and their members.

This year's assessment revealed areas for improvement both in ASB site selection and student organization maintenance and marketing. We did not market ORGLink and educate its users for optimal system performance and will implement a comprehensive plan that addresses these issues, thus allowing for increased program knowledge and usage. Some findings did indicate that we met our goals and our department will use suggestions gained from those surveys to further improve program logistics and structure.