In 2019, as AACN celebrated its 50th anniversary, Skyfactor (formerly EBI) commemorated twenty years as AACN’s official assessment partner. Check out the infographic attached here for highlights from twenty years of assessing AACN programs.   ... View more

Residence life has historically played an important role in building community and ensuring students' success in college . While colleges’ focus these past few months has been on keeping students healthy throughout the pandemic, many have been making adjustments to dorms and dining halls to support on-campus learning and ensure student success well before COVID-19. For the second year, Skyfactor Benchworks, a Macmillan Learning Company, recognized three of colleges - Florida State University (FSU), University of Northern Iowa (UNI), and University of St. Francis (USF) - with an Assessment and Impact Award for Residence Life.  “From the classroom to students' living areas, the college experience is undergoing a significant amount of change this year. It’s more important than ever that colleges are able to make informed investment decisions. USF, UNI and FSU were early adopters in uncovering how to best support student success through smart use of data and we’re proud to recognize them,” said Steven Ray, Vice President, Macmillan Learning.  The Assessment and Impact Award for Residence Life was established in 2019 to recognize colleges that have successfully used data to analyze and make changes to better their residence life programs. Previous winners were John Carroll University in Ohio, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and Southwest Oregon Community College. Though the assessments took place prior to COVID-19, many of the insights and resulting decisions benefit students' on-campus experiences, even today. For example:   FSU’s University Housing identified patterns in student dissatisfaction with aspects of dining, and used data to help strengthen the collaborative relationship with dining services operations. The data sharing led to meaningful changes in meal plans and dining operations, and ultimately increased student satisfaction with both. UNI used survey data to inform strategic investments in housing-related technology and experiences. For example, they identified spaces where Wi-Fi access was problematic and made strategic modifications to existing facilities in order to improve the student experience by moving and adding laundry facilities and planning mixed-purpose spaces for student studying and socially-distanced socializing. USF’s survey data on resident learning related to interactions, diversity, and transferable skills informed their selection of and measured progress on program learning outcomes. They’re transitioning their residential education model from a traditional programming model to a curricular approach, an intentional process of promoting student learning in the residence halls. The 2020 winners were chosen this spring through a careful analysis of multiple years of data from the ACUHO-I/Benchworks Resident Assessment. The Skyfactor Benchworks Analytics and Research Team first conducted a quantitative analysis and review of applications and then interviewed finalists  to learn about improvements in residence life.  Please drop a comment below to congratulate this year's Assessment & Impact Award Winners! ## Benchworks assessments are the most widely used programs in higher education housing, and have been available for nearly 20 years. The ACUHO-I/Benchworks Residents Assessment is used by nearly 300 institutions each year, and is one of more than 50 different assessments from Benchworks on topics important to college success, including housing, orientation, and student affairs and service. The survey includes questions about student satisfaction with facilities, programs, dining, safety, room assignment, and roommates, as well as learning related to personal interactions, diversity, sense of community, academic success, transferable skills, sustainability, and healthy habits. ... View more

While there are some startling statistics related to student retention (like the fact that 40% of first year students will not return to their institution the second year), luckily iClicker Insights has some interesting stats too - ones that demonstrate how it can be used to improve student success and retention by empowering early intervention. Check out iClicker Insights 'by the number' here. F or more information, visit iclicker.com/insights.   ... View more

iClicker’s institutional solutions enhance and capture student engagement for better student outcomes. Attendance Tracking Course Engagement Retention Surveys Analytics & Insights Check out the attached flyer to learn more! ... View more

A story is essentially a set of events, often told for entertainment. Stories are part of our everyday life. In Student Affairs, we have stories that describe the histories of our organizations, stories that tell about our best and brightest members, and stories of events and activities we share. By connecting individual pieces of information to a larger whole, the stories provide meaning around who we are and what we aspire to be. They connect to our emotions ensuring that we remember the details long after we hear the story. Great stories do more than tell us. They help us to experience, through details and imagery, the story alongside the narrator or characters. Imagine that power and how it could be applied to assessment.   Access the recording today! WATCH RECORDING ... View more

Whether in-person or virtual, strong connections between students and instructors and peer-to-peer is critical. iClicker provides a simple solution for creating more engaging, connected learning experiences which ultimately improve student course satisfaction. For programs who would like to achieve or maintain high course satisfaction scores, iClicker can help. View the attached PDF for more information! ... View more

COVID-19 is forcing us to rapidly adjust how we work with each other and our students, including for the fall 2020 semester. But, our institutions will still be welcoming a new, incoming class of first-year students who will need our support. While many aspects of their experience might be different, the foundation of their experience--and the need to support their transition to college--is as important as ever. Skyfactor and Macmillan Learning have leveraged over 20 years of experience researching and improving first-year student retention at over 200 colleges and universities. Framed within the context of COVID-19, this webinar will highlight concrete lessons learned about research-based methods for identifying at-risk students and targeting efforts to improve retention.   Access recording today! WATCH RECORDING ... View more

As we, our students, and our campuses continue to adapt to disruption and uncertainty, assessment may not be a top priority for many. However, everything we previously knew about our students may not matter in our current context. Asking about and collecting data on their needs and experiences is more important now than ever. From improving our work to communicating our value, assessment is a critical part of our work. The question is--how do we do it in ways that are nimble, compassionate, and smart? In this webinar, we’ll highlight practical strategies with current data and concrete examples for how to continue and adapt our assessment efforts for fall 2020.   Access the recording today! WATCH RECORDING ... View more

    Co-Sponsored by Skyfactor and CAS Assessment is an integral part of student affairs work, but there is great variety in the breadth and depth of assessment work across different campuses, departments, and positions. And, much of that has evolved or changed since the onset of COVID-19. What can we learn from looking at where the field has been and where it is going? This webinar will feature an insightful and engaging conversation with assessment experts for a discussion about current issues, challenges, and the future of student affairs assessment.     Access the recording today! WATCH RECORDING Presented by: Matt Venaas is a Research Manager at Skyfactor, a Macmillan Learning company. In this capacity on the Analytics & Research Team, he is responsible for survey design and content for over 50 national benchmarking assessments. He also is responsible for analyzing data from these assessments to build educational content and conduct national studies. Since 2015, he has presented over 50 educational sessions at national higher education conferences on a wide range of topics related to student affairs assessment, student success, and retention. He is currently a member of the Directorate Board for ACPA’s Commission for Assessment and Evaluation and has twice served on faculty for the Student Affairs Assessment Institute. He has a M.S.Ed. in Adult and Higher Education and a B.A. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University. Erin Bentrim, Ph.D. is the Divisional Director of Student Affairs Research & Assessment at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. During the past 23 years, Dr. Bentrim has served in a variety of positions in higher education administration including Assistant Dean of Students, Interim Director of Academic Assessment, and the Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness. Dr. Bentrim has led several strategic planning initiatives in her local community and served as an assessment consultant for multiple campuses. Dr. Bentrim has also had numerous responsibilities related to the SACS accreditation process. In addition, she was the national co-chair of the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community from 2009-2011 and is a founding member of the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders. Dr. Bentrim holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology & Research, an M.Ed. in Student Personnel Services, both from the University of South Carolina, and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wofford College where she earned a Bachelor’s in English. Christopher Haug, Ed.D. currently serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at Neumann University located in suburban Philadelphia, where he provides executive leadership for a comprehensive range of services, policies, and procedures related to student affairs programming, planning, and strategically-related functions for the institution. Previously, he served in student affairs positions at University of Portland, University of Notre Dame, Winthrop University, and Ball State University where he had responsibility for a wide range of student affairs administrative functions and assessment initiatives. A recipient of the 2019 Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) Dissertation of the Year Award, Dr. Haug’s doctoral research established that moral distress is present among student conduct administrators in higher education. Dr. Haug earned a Doctorate in Education from University of Portland, Masters of Arts in Student Affairs Administration from Ball State University, and a Bachelors of Science in Education from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Gavin Henning, Ph.D. is Professor and Program Director of the Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Doctorate of Education Programs. He’s held positions in residence life, student affairs assessment, institutional research, and student affairs divisional leadership. He has been implementing assessment in some form for over 20 years. He is a Past President of ACPA as well as immediate Past President of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). Gavin earned a BS in Psychology and Sociology and Master of Arts in College and University Administration from Michigan State University as well as Master of Arts in Sociology and Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy and Leadership, both from the University of New Hampshire. ... View more

With fall 2020 plans still a work in progress, it may be hard to focus on student retention. However, the issue is more important than ever to our students and our institutions. While a new approach may seem impossible right now, our webinar will discuss how you can work fast and light with respect to short timelines and small budgets this fall to support student retention. We've been working with campuses using this approach both prior to and during COVID-19. We'll share what we're learning and how you can make it work for you this fall, regardless of your situation and how it may evolve.     Access the recording today! Watch Recording ... View more

In spring 2019, Skyfactor conducted a national study about academic initiatives as part of the ACUHO-I/Benchworks Resident Assessment. The study focused on both academic-related learning outcomes and efforts commonly used by housing professionals to drive learning. Combined with data from the national assessment, the results highlight key insights on how housing can support student success. View the attached infographic to learn more. ... View more

The CARES Acts provided Department of Education assistance to higher education to respond to pressing student and institutional needs that have arisen due to the quick pivot from traditional classes to remote learning. Understandably, students have been academically impacted. However, almost every aspect of students’ college experiences have been impacted. Understanding intervention priorities, as well as the ultimate impact to student and institutional outcomes, is critical to colleges and universities.  This Spring iClicker Insights offered  two free surveys to help administrators quickly move beyond anecdotes, to efficiently gather data on how their students are faring. Developed by Macmillan Learning’s Analytics and Research experts, these surveys were developed to identify students’ most pressing needs and inform both intervention planning and forecasting potential ramifications to student retention. So what’s the difference between the two?  Determining Most Pressing Intervention Needs The Intervention Needs survey identifies students who may be struggling in the online environment, as well as potential retention issues due to the quick transition to remote learning. Topics include: managing coursework, motivation, feelings of connectedness, as well as students’ plans to return. Assessing Impact to Student Retention:  The COVID-19 Student Outcomes survey evaluates how the quick transition to remote learning impacted students’ experience - and potential flags for student retention. Survey items include: satisfaction with academics and campus services; interactions with peers, faculty and staff; sense of belonging; overall perceptions of the institution; and plans to return.  Below are best practices from our Analytics & Research teams for using these two assessments:  Administer the Intervention Needs survey ASAP after the start of the term, or after a pivot to online classes. This survey will help identify which students are most in need - and focus interventions on the most pressing student needs.  Administer the Student Outcomes survey 1-2 weeks prior to the end of the term. This survey will help you to determine how  moving or being online impacted students' experiences.  Communicate to stakeholders in other departments your intentions to deploy the survey(s) so that students won’t receive multiple requests from different departments for the same survey Share your findings with internal stakeholders. Check out this webinar recording for ideas on how to visually present data for improved clarity and impact.  If you are interested in learning more about these COVID-19 student insights surveys or how the iClicker Insights analytics dashboard can help you identify and intervene as early as possible with the students who most need it, visit iclicker.com/insights or sign up for one of our 45-minute office hour sessions being held throughout July and August.  ... View more

As campuses moved quickly to transition instruction and services online due to COVID-19, Skyfactor partnered with Pharos Resources to develop the Benchworks Student Impact Survey. The survey was designed to (1) help students reflect on and anticipate how they were going to handle these transitions, (2) help campuses quickly identify specific students who needed support, and (3) help campuses understand the prevalence of key issues for their students during a unique situation. More than 13,000 students from 33 U.S. colleges and universities responded to the survey between March 27 and May 25. Here are four concerns they raised. View the attached infographic to learn more.     ... View more

As campuses moved quickly to transition instruction and services online due to COVID-19, Skyfactor partnered with Pharos Resources to develop the Benchworks Student Impact Survey. The Survey was designed to (1) help students reflect on and anticipate how they were going to handle these transitions, (2) help campuses quickly identify specific students who needed support, and (3) help campuses understand the prevalence of key issues for their students during a unique situation. Between March 27 and April 21, more than 5,800 students from 26 U.S. colleges and universities responded to a question asking what they would miss most about being on campus. View the attached flyer to learn more. ... View more

In the midst of COVID-19, Andrew Lehr, the Director of Student Success at Anderson University, used data from the Benchworks Student Impact Survey to: spot a campus-wide concern quickly, identify students who needed immediate support, and inform a systematic approach to outreach. View the attached case study to learn more. ... View more