Using the CAS Professional Standards: Diverse Examples of Practice

Using the CAS Professional Standards is a practical text designed to highlight multiple ways to apply the standards and guidelines published by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). It offers a compilation of in-depth case studies that demonstrate what the CAS approach looks like in practice across a wide range of functional areas in a variety of college and university settings. Written by student affairs faculty and practitioners, the book details how the CAS approach can be used successfully to design new programs, develop learning outcomes, address organizational challenges, conduct program reviews, and compile and report on findings. The authors offer diverse perspectives on how to apply the CAS standards and support efforts to promote assessment and effectiveness, benefitting both the division of student affairs and the whole institution by contributing to a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The book also expertly illustrates the many ways in which to utilize the CAS standards beyond program reviews. Chapters explore how to use the standards to inform the development of new programs and services as well as how to assess and benchmark existing ones. In addition, a chapter is devoted to adapting the standards and guidelines to address unique functional areas not addressed by CAS. Using the CAS Professional Standards is a must-have companion guide to the CAS standards. The guidance offered by the case studies and commentary is indispensable for higher education leaders who are considering adopting the standards or who seek to take their practice to the next level.