The Division of Student Affairs places a high priority on assessment that leads to service and program improvements for our students and ensures that we are meaningfully contributing to their success. The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) has developed a widely accepted set of professional standards for student affairs programs. The CAS standards may act as benchmarks against which departments assess their operations and performance.
Note: SARA acknowledges that there are professional standards designed for specific areas that may be a better fit than CAS and using those standards will result in a more meaningful program review for the department. Departments that choose to use different professional standards may do so with the approval of their AVC and SARA.
The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) develops and promulgates standards that enhance the quality of a students total learning experience in higher education. CAS is a consortium of associations in higher education whose representatives achieve consensus on the nature and application of standards that guide the work of practitioners. CAS derives its authority from the prestige and traditional influence of its member associations and from the consensus of those members in establishing requirements for high-quality practice.
CAS BasicsLearning outcomes continue to serve as a way to satisfy the increasing demands for accountability in higher education. These statements, meant to identify the aspects of learning experienced by students through engaging with programs, disciplines, or other learning opportunities, are typically paired with assessment techniques in order to effectively measure their magnitude.
CAS Learning & Development OutcomesLearn more about the national organization of CAS, the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.
CAS Website