December 11, 2004

 

Dear Participant:

 

Thank you again for agreeing to participate in an evaluation of the Counseling Center.  Tim Pierson, the Vice President for Student Affairs, directed us to use the CAS (Council for the Advancement of Standards) Standards and Guidelines.  Here is the eagerly anticipated information that will enable you to complete the Self-Assessment Guide (SAG).  Your main task is to judge the extent that the Counseling Center is in compliance with these standards.

 

The CAS Standard’s assessment criteria are organized into 13 component parts, and are presented in the following order:

 

  1. Mission
  2. Program
  3. Leadership
  4. Organizational and Management
  5. Human Resources
  6. Financial Resources
  7. Facilities, Technology, and Equipment
  8. Legal Responsibilities
  9. Equity and Access
  10. Campus and External Relations
  11. Diversity
  12. Ethics
  13. Assessment and Evaluation

 

Assessment Criteria are used to make judgments about the extent to which the part under study has met the standards.  Each statement reflects an essential element of the standard and is rated using the following scale:

 

CAS CRITERION MEASURE RATING SCALE

 

      ND                           1                                 2                                          3                           4                       RR

NOT DONE           NOT MET             MINIMALLY MET     WELL MET    FULLY MET    NOT RATED

 

In addition to the numerical rating options, NOT RATED (NR) and NOT DONE (ND) ratings are available.  This rating scale is designed to estimate broadly the extent to which a given practice has been performed.

 

Under certain circumstances, it may be determined that a criterion measure used to judge the standard is not applicable for our Center.  In such instances, a ND rating can be used and the rationale for excluding the standard will be presented in the self-study report.  The NR rating can be used when relevant data are unavailable to support a judgment.  When you use the ND or the NR rating, please share your rationale for the rating.

 

When we are not in compliance with a criterion, please describe the discrepancy between the standard and our program.  Please list any specific actions that you believe would bring our program into compliance.  Please indicate when there are justifications for noncompliance such as insufficient resources, criterion addressed in another office, etc.

 

The SAC is NOT an electronic form and must be printed.  Please return your completed Self-Assessment Guide to me no later than January 21, 2005.

 

Again, thank you for helping with this self-study.  Because I value your opinions, I am looking forward to receiving your responses.  Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.

 

I hope that we will be able to meet sometime during the week of January 24.  At that time, we will go over the collective results, reach consensus about criteria in question, and shape the initial action plan.  Hopefully, I will be able to meet with you individually.

 

Have a good holiday.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Wayne R. O’Brien

Director of the Counseling Center

434-395-2409

obrienwr@longwood.edu