Make data and outcome-based continuous improvement a part of our daily environment. This is number 8 on SHSU's institutional goals.
Objective
Selection Of A Consistent Assessment Tool
The Department of Residence Life will identify and adopt a new assessment tool or system in order to re-establish systematic plans and processes to meet internal and external accountability expectations.
KPI
Evaluation Of Assessment Tools
Assessments must include various qualitative and quantitative methodologies to determine if programs and services are supporting the department's and university's stated mission and goals. Assessments must also be user-friendly to ensure a significant return rate. This will be measured by the student responses on an end-of-year survey/assessment in May.
Result
Increase In Student Responses
The targeted return rate for a new assessment regarding student satisfaction will be 40%.
Action
New Assessment Tool Selected
The Department of Residence Life selected Campus Labs/Student Voice and utilized its services to create a new satisfaction survey in April 2012. Although the return rate was lower than hoped (22.49%), it was still higher than previous years, so was felt a success.
Objective
Develop Documentation For New Business Processes
Residence Life will develop and maintain documentation on business processes related to student housing records (student application, booking, and billing processes within StarRez), as well as all business processes related to Banner accounting/auditing functions in the department.
KPI
Improved Documentation And Written Procedures
A common book of procedures will benefit Residence Life as staff are hired, trained, and cross-trained, and will reduce errors due to lack of knowledge. Written procedures will be created and stored electronically for staff to download as needed. Staff will be trained and cross-trained appropriately and will be able to assist students and SHSU staff more accurately and in more timely fashion. Student satisfaction with residence life-related business will be improved. This will be measured by the student responses on an end-of-year survey/assessment in May.
Result
Expected Reduction In Errors And Complaints
Assessment results should show a high student satisfaction with the manner in which their residence life related business is handled.
Action
Wrote Procedural Maps For StarRez And Banner Processes
Although our department staff wrote detailed procedure maps for most processes in StarRez and Banner, we failed to ask any questions relating to the business aspect of our department in the survey this year.
Goal
Maintain A Culture Of Excellence
Maintain a culture of excellence in a supportive and collegial environment. This is number 4 of the SHSU institutional goals.
Objective
Addition Of Residence Hall Director Positions
Residence Life will provide more in-hall leadership, support and continuity for our residents by obtaining 2 additional FTEs to be filled by professional Residence Hall Directors.
Funding would need to be secured for this item in the amount of $72,600 to cover salary and benefits.
KPI
Reduction Of Student-To-Professional Staff Ratio
Adding 2 more Residence Hall Directors will generate a 30% reduction in our student -to-professional RHD staff ratio, which will be more in line with ACUHO-I and CAS standards. The national average, according to ACUHO-I is 1 RHD to 286 residents. We currently operate at approximately 1 RHD to 850 residents.
Action
2 Additional FTEs Approved
The Department of Residence Life obtained 2 new FTEs for Residence Hall Directors, bringing the total to six (6). New RHDs were hired and began work in June and July 2012.
Goal
Develop Campus Physical Facilities And Infrastructure
Continue to develop campus physical facilities and infrastructure. This is number 9 on SHSU institutional goals.
Objective
Improve Residence Life Technology Infrastructure
Residence Life will update and maintain an ongoing list of technology needs and use the appropriated budget to assess and meet those needs in a timely manner.
KPI
Demonstrated Student Satisfaction And Staff Effectiveness
Students will demonstrate satisfaction with technology processes related to housing business needs with their response on an end-of-year assessment/survey in May.
Action
Keeping Up With Technological Advances
Although we were working very hard to obtain this goal, circumstances prevented thorough development of the process. We lost our departmental Systems Analyst and was unable to rehire this position due to lack of candidates. We also failed to ask technology-related questions on our new survey in May.