OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2013 - 2014

Student Activities

Goal

Leadership Development

Support student learning and achievement by recognizing and celebrating accomplishments in a university-wide award ceremony.

Objective

Leadership Development Recognition

By participating in the annual Sammy Awards program, students will be encouraged to strive for success and improvement in their campus involvement both academically and co-curricularly.

The Sammys is the official university ceremony that recognizes SHSU's outstanding student leaders and organizations.

AWARD CATEGORIES:

Six individual college awards. These awards recognize an outstanding student from each college that is nominated by faculty within that college, and are chosen by their respective dean. Students must be of junior, senior or graduate level standing and have a minimum 3.00 GPA.
Seventeen individual and organizational awards which require nominations from members of the University community at large. For the awards that honor individuals, those students must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.
Four Sammy Awards, which also require nominations from the University community at large. These prestigious awards are presented to approximately four graduating students and faculty/staff members for outstanding contributions and service to the university. Students must be of senior or graduate level standing and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Indicator

The Sammys Nominee Survey

A survey addressing various levels of involvement, recognition and motivation in participating in the Sammy Awards program will be used after the award ceremony to assess nominee's desire to become successful and involved on campus both academically and co-curricularly.

Criterion

75% Of Nominees Desire To Succeed

After being nominated for an award in the Sammy Awards program, 75% of nominees (survey participants) will show increased motivation to succeed on campus.

Finding

Desire To Succeed

73% of survey respondents stated that after being nominated for an award, students have an increased desire to succeed.

85% of survey respondents stated that after winning an award, students have an increased desire to succeed.

Criterion

75% Of Nominees Desire To Become Involved On Campus

After being nominated for an award in the Sammy Awards program, 75% of nominees (survey participants) will show increased motivation to become involved on campus.

Finding

Desire To Become Involved On Campus

80% of survey respondents stated that after being nominated for an award, students have an increased desire to become involved on campus.

78% of survey respondents stated that after winning an award, students have an increased desire to become involved on campus.

Action

Promotion Of Sammy Awards

While the students we surveyed (award nominees) showed increased desires to succeed and be involved on campus after being nominated for or winning an award at the Sammy Awards, more promotion of the event during the fall semester will help educate students on their opportunities to showcase their involvement and be recognized on campus. If students are aware of an understand the requirements to be nominated and the significance of the award ceremony, they will be more likely to succeed and be involved on campus. Therefore, continued education and promotion of this event throughout the year (not just during the nomination process) is crucial.

Goal

Diversity Education

Establish programs and initiatives to prepare students to meaningfully interact with diverse populations.

Objective

Diversity Leadership Conference Workshop Education

By attending various workshops at the annual Diversity Leadership Conference, students will be educated and able to use the information given to them after the workshop. 2014 workshop titles are listed below:
Trapped Inside Your Head; Diversity Dice; Ask An Apostate an Athiest Panel; Power Trip - Studying Abroad; Texas Is Not Arizona; Sex In The Dark; Stand Your Ground; Is Django Really Unchained; I Stand Social Justice; Bold Leadership; Impact 6 Ways to Lead; Breaking Down Stereotypes; The Invisible Line

Indicator

Individual Workshop Surveys

A short survey will be given to attendees after each workshop session to assess the following aspects: clear learning outcomes, speaker engagement and usefulness of information.

Criterion

90% Of Participants Will Be Able To Use Information

After attending various workshops at the 2014 Diversity Leadership Conference, 90% of attendees (survey participants) will be educated and able to use the information given to them after the workshop.

Finding

93% Of Participants Able To Use Information

93% of survey respondents stated that after attending the 2014 DLC conference workshops, they were educated and able to use the presented information.

Action

Expand Workshop Survey Focus

While we met our goal of providing educational workshops and useful information for conference participants, next year we will explore using different scales and question wording in the surveys to maximize what we are able to assess. DLC staff members can also review 2014 educational content in making decisions for the 2015 conference since the material and presentations were effective.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement As a result of our FY13 assessment findings, we made the following program adjustments:

1. To promote OrgLINK and increase involvement, we set up multiple "tabling" times in prime locations on campus to more clearly demonstrate the benefits of OrgLINK and allow students to interact 1-on-1 with our staff. We also created a video training to demonstrate the benefits and usage of OrgLINK that will be available online, beginning fall 2014. However, we still face challenges in identifying promotion methods to increase OrgLINK usage by the mass of the student body.

2. To improve performance and learning among our Emerging Leaders cohorts, we educated participants on the final project expectations at the beginning of the semester and created time within the program during the year (not just at the end) to complete the presentation project and allow for meaningful reflection. We have seen drastic improvements due to this change.

Plan for continuous improvement After reviewing the FY14 assessment cycle findings, we were able to identify areas of success and improvement. To assist in leadership development for our students and create incentive to succeed and be involved campus, our survey showed that the Sammy Awards program is successful in its efforts to recognize and promote student success. We were also able to identify that further education and promotion of this event is needed throughout the academic year in lieu of just during the nomination process. Because students find value in this program and are encouraged to succeed and be involved after being nominated or winning an award, the Associate Director of Student Activities will use the fall 2014 semester to promote this award opportunity on campus and educate students about the nomination process.

In response to the Diversity Leadership Conference workshop survey, we met our goal of educating students and providing useful information. FY14 survey data will prove useful in determining workshop content for the 2015 conference. However, for DLC 2015, the Multicultural Coordinator will guide the Diversity Council in preparing workshop surveys that are more specific in their assessment and that use various scales of measurement in order to gain more useful data.