Planning & Assessment
Division of Student Affairs Reach Higher 2025 Committee
The Division of Student Affairs is revisiting our strategic planning to better align with Reach Higher 2025. The newly formed DSA Reach Higher Committee will be working on this effort.
Timeline:
- Identify a DSA Reach Higher Committee (March 2022)- Completed
- Mission, Vision, Values Review and Finalization (Apr/May/June 2022) Completed
- Contributing to Reach Higher 2025's Three Commitments (June/July/Aug 2022)
- Refining DSA Strategic Priorities (July/August 2022)
- Final Plan & Implementation (Sept/October 2022)
DSA Reach Higher 2025 Committee
Andy Beachnau, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs
Melissa Baker-Boosamra, Office of Student Life
Kyle Boone, Housing & Residence Life
Amy Campbell, Recreation and Wellness
Kate Harmon, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs
Jeremy Paul, Office of Student Life
Katie Perschbacher, Dean of Students Office
Daphnea Sutherland, Children's Enrichment Center
Areas that support student success must be thoughtfully planned in support of the Grand Valley mission and aligned with university accreditation standards of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in order to continue to provide a high quality, student-centered experience.
GVSU Division of Student Affairs Assessment Process (July 2019)
The Division of Student Affairs’ work is guided by GVSU’s institutional mission, the Academic and Student Affairs mission, as well as our divisional mission, vision, and values; this work directs the efforts of our individual units as we partner with students.
In order to advance our mission and vision, we set strategic objectives that we report on annually. Acknowledging our commitment to student learning outside the classroom setting, we have developed a set of student learning outcomes that are foundational to our work, and which we also report on annually (like our strategic objectives). Each of the units within Student Affairs develop unit missions, visions, and values specific to those areas. Through an annual reporting process for both strategic planning and student learning, units stay committed to a culture of continuous improvement. Within our unit strategic plans, units evaluate ongoing efforts to support students and report on objectives (e.g. utilization, satisfaction, student learning). Within unit student learning outcomes (or student-centered outcomes), units report annually on at least 1-2 student learning outcomes influenced by the divisional student learning outcomes.
Each year, in order to complete assessment expectations, Student Affairs staff must make meaning of what we learned during the assessment process (utilizing data to inform decisions, planning action as a result of decisions, describing significance of findings and implications for future work).
Planning & Assessment
Student Data
The Division of Student Affairs uses information provided by the Office of Institutional Analysis and Division of Inclusion and Equity to provide relevant programs and services for the Lakers of today.
Strategic Plan
The Division of Student Services strategic plan is a living document linked to the university strategic plan. Progress updates are added annually (2016-2021).
Reporting Timeline
University Timeline:
- Annual Strategic Plan Objective Update (Assigned: Dean of Students Office- Annual, February)
- Annual Update of Student Centered Outcome Reporting (Assigned: Departments- Annual, May)
- Review of Student Centered Outcome Reporting (Assigned: Departments- Every 2 years, Due 12/17 and 12/19)
- Strategic Plan Self-Study Report (Assigned: Dean of Students Office- Every 5-6 years, Due 12/21)
- Good News Quarterly Reporting (Assigned: Departments- October, January, April, June)
- Performance Development Plan- ePDP Annual Planning (Assigned: Departments- September, March, April)
Division Timeline:
- Co-Curricular Reporting (Assigned: Departments- Annual, June)
- Involvement Retention Reporting (Assigned: Departments- Annual, June)
- Year-End Summary/Enhanced Learning Experience Report (Assigned: Departments- Annual, July)
- Program Review Cycle (Assigned: Departments- Ongoing)
Program Review
The process of program review includes: self-assessment, benchmarking, external reviewer visit, and action plan.
The self-assessment component involves modified use of the Self-Assessment Guide created by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).
Learning Outcomes
The Division of Student Affairs develops programs and initiatives around the robust set of Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) Essential Learning Outcomes as articulated by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Intercultural Knowledge & Competence
- Civic Engagement
- Integrated & Applied Learning
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Advancing Health & Well-being
These learning outcomes are used by Student Affairs departments for division co-curricular programming and University Assessment Committee (UAC) student centered outcome (SCO) reporting.
Post Incident/Program Review Form
The Division of Student Affairs is committed to learning from mistakes, mishaps and strategic errors. Following practices created by Google and the United States Department of the Interior, the Division has created an opportunity to participate in an evaluation of an incident and/or program review to help us understand what action items need to be acted upon to help avoid errors in the future.
Mission, Vision, Core Values
The mission of GVSU’s Division of Students Affairs is:
To elevate, challenge, and empower all learners to develop their passions and purpose in a healthy, inclusive, and equitable environment. The Division of Student Affairs positively impacts the university through engaging experiential learning and exceptional student support.
Vision:
Every learner will belong, persist, and create meaningful lives, careers, and communities.
As student affairs professionals, we value:
- Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Justice
- Creating a Community of Care and Respect
- Embracing Collaboration and Creativity
- Empowering Experiential and Engaged Learning
- Enhancing Health and Well-being
- Seeking Understanding Across Differences