Benchmarking Institute University of Wisconsin Stout National Advisory Board Benchmarks

 

University program assessment and evaluation has moved beyond the academic classrooms, compelling institutions to also demonstrate the effectiveness of their student support services and administrative divisions. Accreditors now require evidence of effectiveness in program reviews and stakeholders need this type of data to inform decision-making.

A new tool, the University Benchmark Project: Educational Support Services, provides four-year universities and colleges with national metrics to assess productivity and highlight successes of their administrative and student service divisions.

"A project like this will allow us to have additional data that can be used to inform and improve our current support unit review process.  Having the ability to compare many different support units to similar peers across the nation fills a big gap for us and creates a richer environment for meaningful assessment!"

-Jason Nicholas
Director of Institutional Research and Analysis
Northern Michigan University

The University Benchmark Project: Educational Support Services collects standardized information from administrative and student support services divisions in four-year universities and colleges and was developed in partnership by the University of Wisconsin - Stout and the National Higher Education Benchmarking Institute with input from an advisory board of higher education professionals from colleges across the country.  This national initiative's goal is to collect standardized information from 4-year institution's administrative and student support services divisions.

 

Subject Matter Experts

 

The University Benchmark Project team and advisory board recruited a diverse array of more than 100 representatives to serve as experts on the development and refinement of individual functional areas.  Additionally, the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders (SAAL) organization was consulted to gain access to a broad group of indidivudals working in Student Affairs assessment to volunteer for service. These Subject Mater Experts helped with the selection of data elements, crafting of data definitions, reviewing the draft data collection protocol and reporting strategies.  Representatives from the following institutions were involved in this critical feedback effort:

  • Baker University (KS)

  • Benedict College (SC)

  • Duquesne University (PA)

  • George Mason University (VA)

  • Harvard University (MA)

  • Huston-Tillotson University (TX)

  • Illinois College (IL)

  • Iowa State University (IA)

  • Jackson State University (MS)

  • Johns Hopkins University (MD)

  • Kansas State University (KS)

  • La Sierra University (CA)

  • Lincoln University (MO)

  • Manhattan College (NY)

  • Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)

  • North Carolina A & T State University (NC)

  • Northern Michigan University (MI)

  • Ohio University (OH)

  • Randolph College (VA)

  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)

  • Rutgers University-New Brunswick (NJ)

  • Saint Martin's University (WA)

  • Seton Hill University (PA)

  • Simpson College (IA)

  • St. Bonaventure University (NY)

  • St. Mary's College of Maryland (MD)

  • Texas A & M University (TX)

  • University of Connecticut (CT)

  • University of Houston-Clear Lake (TX)

  • University of Kentucky (KY)

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (MI)

  • University of Nevada-Reno (NV)

  • University of New Mexico-Main Campus (NM)

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro (NC)

  • University of Northern Iowa (IA)

  • University of Notre Dame (IN)

  • University of Oregon (OR)

  • University of San Diego (CA)

  • University of Toledo (OH)

  • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)

  • University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (WI)

  • University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)

  • University of Wisconsin-Parkside (WI)

  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

  • University of Wisconsin-Stout (WI)

  • Wake Forest University (NC)

  • Walden University (MN)

  • Western Washington University (WA)

  • Wichita State University (KS)