ACADEMIC PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Part I	CAO Recommendation

Continue    Modify    Eliminate	

Institution:	Degree Designation as on Diploma:	
Western Kentucky University (00200200)	Master of Arts in Education	
Program Name:	CIP Code:	
Student Affairs in Higher Education	131102	
WKU Program Reference Number:	Program Type (collaborative, joint, single):	
145	Single Institution	
Program Coordinator:	Program Implementation Date:	
Aaron W. Hughey	1993	
Department Head:	Submission Date:	
Jill Sauerheber	March 1, 2017	

A. Centrality to the Institutional Mission and Consistency with State Goals (not to exceed current page)	
A.1 How has the program contributed to WKU’s mission?	
WKU Mission Statement: “Western Kentucky University (WKU) prepares students of all backgrounds to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society. The University provides research, service and lifelong learning opportunities for its students, faculty, and other constituents. WKU enriches the quality of life for those within its reach.” 
Student Affairs Program Mission Statement: “The Master of Arts in Education degree in Student Affairs is designed to prepare students to obtain entry and mid-level student affairs professional positions. Through a theory-based yet applications-oriented program, students gain necessary skills and competencies to succeed in a variety of student affairs units and postsecondary settings. The Counseling and Student Affairs faculty comprised of academics and practitioners cultivate active partnerships with student affairs professionals to provide a living learning laboratory for student professional development. Program content covers three broad areas: theoretical foundations, professional practice, and administrative effectiveness.  Individual students are also provided with opportunities to focus on specific content areas which may be of particular interest.” 

The program mission is in perfect alignment with the institutional mission. 
 	
A.2 How has the program contributed to the economic and social welfare goals of HB 1 as delineated in the statewide postsecondary education strategic agenda? 	
The Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education’s Big Goal: 58% with Degrees and Credentials by 2025.. Achieving this goal is critical if the Commonwealth hopes to accelerate job creation, grow the economy, and expand our tax base through the contributions of a more skilled, productive workforce. Additionally, high levels of educational attainment are correlated with better health; more informed, engaged citizens; and the kind of business and cultural endeavors that attract vibrant, creative and entrepreneurial people to the state.” 
Student affairs professionals are responsible for recruiting, retaining to graduation, and helping students obtain jobs related to their majors after graduation. This contributes directly to the economic and social welfare of everyone in the Commonwealth, individually and collectively. By preparing students to enter the student affairs profession, the program directly supports Objective 6.1: “Improve student advising by focusing on effective, research-based practices that have been shown to increase retention and graduation,” and Objective 6.4: “Promote greater collaboration between academic affairs and student affairs professionals to facilitate student success and share effective practices. 	
A.3 How does the program align with the statewide postsecondary education strategic implementation plan?	
The Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education’s Objective and Strategies: “Objective 9. Improve the career readiness and employability of postsecondary education graduates. Strategy 9.1. Make career development a state and institutional priority and a key strategy for student success. Improve career development through earlier advising efforts, clearly articulated career pathways, degree maps, tools that match skills to jobs and students with employers, and entrepreneurship training.”

Student affairs professionals, through their involvement with career counseling and academic advising, and their understanding of, and expertise in student development and learning processes, play a key role in helping all students be successful in their higher education pursuits. Student affairs professionals assume leadership roles in recruitment, orientation, academic and social support, programming, discipline, financial aid, and other units considered essential to student success. Again, by preparing students to enter the student affairs profession, the program directly supports this and other KCPE objectives and strategies. Specifically, Objective 9.1: “Make career development a state and institutional priority and a key strategy for student success. Improve career development through earlier advising efforts, clearly articulated career pathways, degree maps, tools that match skills to jobs and students with employers, and entrepreneurship training,” and Objective 9.2: “Survey higher education alumni and Kentucky employers to assess the career readiness of Kentucky graduates and identify needed skills and competencies for current and future employment opportunities.”	

B. Program Quality (not to exceed two pages)	
B.1 Describe means of assessment of student learning outcomes at the program level over the review term.  Summarize results of these assessments as well as 'closing-the-loop' strategies undertaken to improve program quality.	
All students must pass a comprehensive examination that assesses the knowledge and skills acquired through the student affairs program. This examination is typically taken during their last semester of enrollment and has both an objective (100 multiple choice items) and a qualitative component (two essay questions). Students must achieve a passing score of 70% to graduate. The vast majority of students achieve 75% or higher on the examination; they tend to do slightly better on the written portion than the objective section. Selected score data for selected years can be found below:

Semester/Year	
N=	
Multiple Choice Scores
(Range)	
Mean Value of Essay 1 (Range)	
Mean Value of Essay 2 (Range)	
Mean Value of Essay 1 & 2 (Range)	
Mean Value of Overall Exam (Range)	

Fall 2011 – Summer 2012	
16	
80.66 
(R: 81.0 – 83.0)	
90.4
(89.0 – 94.5)	
92.63
(R: 90.5 - 92.5)	
92.02
(R: 90.8 – 93.3)	
86.34
(R: 85.4 – 86.6)	

Fall 2012 – Summer 2013	
10	
76.86
(R: 71.0-80.0)	
81.66
(R: 80.0-82.0)	
75.26
(R: 74.0-77.5)	
78.46
(R: 77.5-78.7)	
77.66
(R: 74.25-79.4)	

Fall 2013 – Summer 2014	
7	
85.6
(R: 75.0-92.0)	
89.6
(R: 1.0-94.5)	
91.7
(R:82.5-93.5)	
90.65
(R: 81.7-93.5)	
88.73
(R: 77.3-90.9)	

Fall 2014 – Summer 2015	
14	
83.6
(R: 75.0-92.0)	
88.6
(R: 1.0-94.5)	
90.7
(R:82.5-92.5)	
90.75
(R: 81.8-93.5)	
87.20
(R: 77.4-90.9)	

Fall 2015 – Summer 2016	
21	
85.66 
(R: 83.0 – 88.0)	
90.4
(R: 89.3 – 95.6)	
93.71
(R: 91.5 - 95.8)	
92.05
(R: 90.8 – 94.3)	
88.86
(R: 85.4 – 89.6)	

After each administration of the comprehensive examination, the program faculty analyze the responses in order to identify areas of the curriculum that need to be enhanced. The objective portion of the exam is keyed to the individual courses in the curriculum. For example, if a significant proportion of students taking the exam incorrectly answer the items related to the legal parameters of student affairs, course requirements are revised to emphasize these areas the next time the course is taught. 	
B.2 Describe any external awards or other recognition of students, faculty, and/or program over the review period.	
Note: Student teams won national, regional and/or state case study competitions in each of the years covered by this review. 	
B.3 Provide data on actual time and credits to degree of graduates, including general education and supporting coursework.	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Average actual time to degree (Years/N):	2.64 (N=13)	2.67 (N=11)	2.43 (N=7)	2.78 (N=9)	2.26 (N=18)		
	Average actual credits to degree (Credits/N):	51 (N=14)	50 (N=14)	51 (N=9)	51 (N=10)	49 (N=19)		
	 		
B.4a Document constituents’ satisfaction with the program, through (a) employers’ satisfaction with program graduates	
Electronic surveys were sent to employers of Student Affairs graduates during June 2013 and July 2015. (Survey items are based on the applicable CAS Standards for Student Affairs Preparation Programs). Specifically, 42 employers were sent surveys in 2013 and 45 employers were sent surveys in 2015. In 2013, usable responses were received from 35 employers (83.3% response rate); in 2015, usable responses were received from 33 employers (73.3 response rate). Employers were asked to rate their employees (our graduates) on the following items using the following scale; means for each item are provided to the left. Qualitative feedback was also obtained in the form of comments which were condensed into themes.

         Poor/Inadequate   Fair/Marginally Acceptable     Good/Acceptable     Very Good       Excellent       
                  1                       2                           3                  4                5
         Area of Concern           Needs Work                 Sufficient         Competent      Exceptional

      2013      2105 
                                                                                                                                                                            4.32       4.21     Demonstrates an understanding of the core values of the student affairs profession.
	
      4.47       4.39     Performs all job duties and responsibilities in an ethical manner; i.e., adheres to a code of ethics sanctioned by a recognized professional association.
      4.21       4.32     Demonstrates an understanding of student development theory and its relationship to the promotion of student learning and development.
      4.47       4.53     Demonstrates an understanding of diversity and has the ability to relate to students from different backgrounds/cultures.
      4.69       4.71     Advocates appropriately for student needs and concerns.
      4.40       4.32     Demonstrates an understanding of how learning is affected by individual characteristics and environmental conditions and uses this knowledge when designing student learning experiences (programming).
      4.20       4.41     Demonstrates understanding of assessment and program evaluation; incorporates an evaluation component into the design of educational programs and student learning experiences.
      4.42       4.62     Demonstrates an understanding of appropriate leadership, organizational, and management practices; applies this knowledge to help the department and institution achieve its mission.
      4.35       4.57     Demonstrates an understanding of appropriate supervisory skills; applies those skills to help the department and institution achieve its mission.
      4.25       4.43     Utilizes technology appropriately in the performance of job duties and responsibilities.
      4.52       4.59     Communicates consistently and effectively with supervisor(s).
      4.68       4.41    Demonstrates appropriate referral skills when working with students who need additional resources. 
    	
4b Document constituents’ satisfaction with the program, through (b) graduates’/alumni satisfaction with the program.	
Electronic surveys were sent to 198 graduates of the Student Affairs program in April 2015. Usable responses were received from 149 graduates (75.2% response rate). Alumni were asked to self-rate their abilities on the following items (based on the applicable CAS Standards for Student Affairs Preparation Programs) using the scale provided; means for each item are provided to the left. As was the case with employers, qualitative feedback was also obtained in the form of comments which were condensed into themes.
 
          Poor/Inadequate   Fair/Marginally Acceptable     Good/Acceptable     Very Good       Excellent       
                  1                       2                           3                  4                5
         
 4.21    Ability to understand and demonstrates an understanding of the core values of the student affairs profession.
       4.78    Performs all job duties and responsibilities in an ethical manner; i.e., adheres to a code of ethics sanctioned by a recognized professional association.
      4.32     Ability to understand and apply student development theory to the promotion of student learning and development.
      4.53     Ability to relate to students from different backgrounds/ cultures.
      4.71     Ability to advocates appropriately for student needs and concerns.
      4.32     Ability to understand how learning is affected by individual characteristics and environmental conditions and to apply that knowledge when designing student learning experiences (programming).
      4.41     Understanding of assessment and program evaluation; ability to incorporate an evaluation component into the design of educational programs and student learning experiences.
      4.62     Ability to understand and utilize appropriate leadership, organizational, and management practices; ability to apply this knowledge to help the department and institution achieve its mission.
      4.57     Understanding of appropriate supervisory skills; ability to apply those skills to help the department and institution achieve its mission.
      4.43     Ability to utilize technology appropriately in the performance of job duties and responsibilities.
      4.59     Ability to communicate consistently and effectively with supervisor(s).
      4.41     Ability to employ appropriate referral skills when working with students who need additional resources.    	
	
B.5 Provide information the success of program graduates one year after graduation.	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Number of graduating students who sought employment:	14	14	9	10	19		
	Percentage of students who sought employment:	100	100	100	100	100		
	Number of graduating students who gained employment:	14	14	9	10	18		
	Percentage of students who gained employment:	100	100	100	100	95		
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Type of Job	Percentage of students employed in that type.		
	Housing/Residence Life	36	29	44	30	33		
	Academic Advising/Career Counseling	21	21	33	30	22		
	Student Activities/Greek System 	21	21	11	10	17		
	Student Conduct	0	0	0	10	0		
	Student Support Services	14	0	11	0	5		
	Student Affairs Administration	7	14	0	20	12		
	Other (Student Affairs Related)	0	14	0	0	12		
	Note: The Student Affairs program is considered a national program. Students are recruited from across the nation (and globally in some cases) and graduates typically pursue employment throughout the nation (and globally in some cases).		
	Percentage of students finding employment in the area of geographic responsibility:	100	100	100	100	100		
	Percentage of students finding employment in Kentucky:	43	71	55	70	69		
	Percentage of students finding employment outside of Kentucky:	57	29	45	30	31		
			
	Number of graduating students who sought graduate/professional school admission (doctoral or a second master’s degree):	2	1	2	2	2		
	Percentage of students who sought graduate/professional school admission:	14	7	22	20	11		
	Number of graduating students who attained graduate/professional school admission:	2	1	2	2	2		
	Percentage of students who attained graduate/professional school admission:	14	7	22	20	11		
			
B.6 If program leads to licensure or certification, provide data on students’ pass rates on relevant exam(s).	
	Note: Non-applicable. The student affairs profession does not have any certification or licensure process. 		

C. Program Demand/Unnecessary Duplication (not to exceed current page)	
C.1 Provide data on student enrollment and number of graduates at the program level over the review period (includes unduplicated AY headcount--summer, fall, and spring).	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Number of enrollments:	39	36	36	50	55		
	Number of graduates:	14	14	9	10	19		
	Credit Hour Production	1,056	768	852	858	828		
			
C.2 Are there similar programs at other public institutions in the state?	Yes		No		
C.2a If yes, explain how the curriculum of this program is different from existing programs at other institutions or that access to these programs is limited at the other institution.	
The Student Affairs program at WKU is unique in its focus, philosophy, and flexibility. It is the only program in the state that is structured around an eleven course core coupled a unique set of six restricted electives of which students select three that match their individual interests/aspirations. This structure that allows students to customize their degree programs to fit their individual career needs. This is further evidenced by the fact that students in the master’s program can augment the degree with graduate certificate program(s) in either International Student Services and/or Career Services. No other program in the country has this feature and it has enhanced recruitment and enrollment in the master’s program. 	
C.2b If yes, describe specific collaborative opportunities your program is pursuing, or can pursue, with these existing programs.  In your explanation, describe how the collaboration will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of each program.	
The Student Affairs program at WKU collaborates with other similar programs in the state on a number of student-related projects (conferences, professional organizations, career fairs, etc.), but each program appeals to a different population of potential graduate students. The WKU program is somewhat unique with its focus on preparing practitioners as opposed to academics. The program at the University of Louisville, for example, seems to be focused on preparing students to pursue additional graduate work at the doctoral level. As such, they emphasize original research in their curriculum. And while the WKU program also requires students to engage in research, the impetus is much more oriented on having them acquiring the critical thinking skills to be good connoisseurs of research, a skill they will employ more consistently as practitioners in the field. Eastern Kentucky University’s comparable program is more interested in developing college counselors. Again, students in the WKU program learn basic counseling skills, but they are typically not interested in becoming counselors. Finally, the comparable program at the University of Kentucky has traditionally been more interested in developing educational administrators, which is distinct from student affairs. Although WKU does work with the other programs in the state, it features a distinct orientation that distinguishes it from the other programs – an orientation that appeals to students with particular personal and professional goals.	

D. Cost and Funding (not to exceed current page)	
D.1 Provide data on program student credit hour production by instructional FTE faculty over the review period, based on minimum program hours required.  In the case that faculty participate in more than one program, include only the FTE allocated to the program under review.	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Minimum program hours required for degree:	48	48	48	48	48		
	Number of graduates (from C.1):	14	14	9	10	19		
	Program SCHP:	1,056	768	852	858	828		
	FTE faculty:	4.5	4	4.2	3.7	3.8		
	Program SCHP/FTEF per year as (Min. Hours x Graduates)/FTEF:	235	192	203	232	218		
			
D.2 Indicate the level of extramural funding attracted by program faculty over the review period.	
	Note: Faculty in the student affairs program do not have access to the same extramural funding opportunities as faculty in other academic areas.  		
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Funding source and level:	0	0	0	0	0		
			
E. Additional Information	
E.1 Please provide any other information that explains the importance of this program to your campus or community. Include program uniqueness or compelling needs met by program faculty not reflected elsewhere (i.e., contribution to general education, departmental SCHP/FTEF, community engagement).	
Note: The need for qualified student affairs professionals is anticipated to increase significantly over the next decade; consequently, employment projections for student affairs professionals are very positive. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Employment of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Expected growth is due to increases in enrollments.” (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm). From the American College Personnel Association (ACPA): “The student affairs field recognizes the on-going changes and transformations that are occurring in society and affecting institutions of higher education. The field and the professionals within it are dedicated to meeting those challenges. However, at its core, the student affairs profession will be called to continue its traditional responsibilities of helping to shape our institutions and to meet the learning and developmental needs of all students and humanizing the college campus. To achieve these goals, we will need to learn how to make colleges supportive, learning rich environments for all students, including traditional age students, adult students, graduate students, part-time students, commuters, students of color, students with disabilities, and poor and otherwise disadvantaged students. In addition, student affairs practitioners will need to develop policies and practices that allow students to stay connected to each other and the institution in the face of technological and societal trends that will increasingly foster disconnectedness.” (http://www.myacpa.org/considering-career-student-affairs).  
Of particular note is that fact that the program contributes significantly to the diversity of the graduate student population at WKU. For example, of the 66 graduates of the program during the time period covered by this review, 17 (26%) were African-American. This helps the profession, the institution, and society in a number of tangible ways; the most beneficial being the assistance and inspiration these individuals provide for college students from under-represented populations.  	

 	ACADEMIC PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Part II		

Academic Year:	2015-16	
WKU Program Reference Number:	145	
Program Name:	Student Affairs in Higher Education	
Program Coordinator:	Aaron W. Hughey	

A. Evidence of Ongoing Assessment and Improvement of Program Academic Quality (not to exceed two pages)	
A.1 List program student learning outcomes.	
			
	Student Learning Outcomes:		
	1.	Demonstrates an understanding of the core values of the student affairs profession.		
	2.	Demonstrates an understanding of student development theory and its relationship to the promotion of student learning and development.		
	3.	Demonstrates an understanding of diversity and has the ability to relate to students from different backgrounds/ cultures.		
	4.	Demonstrates an ability to utilize technology appropriately in the performance of job duties and responsibilities.		
	5.	Demonstrates an understanding of how learning is affected by individual characteristics and environmental conditions and uses this knowledge when designing student learning experiences (programming).		
	6.	Demonstrates an understanding of appropriate leadership, organizational, and management practices; can apply this knowledge to help the department and institution achieve its mission.		
	7.	Demonstrates an understanding of appropriate supervisory skills; applies those skills to help the department and institution achieve its mission.		
	8.	Demonstrates the ability to advocate appropriately for student needs and concerns.		
	9.	Demonstrates an ability to act in an ethically responsible manner in the performance of all job responsibilities; can adhere to a code of ethics sanctioned by a recognized professional association.		
			
A.2 Identify the status of the program with respect to any relevant external accreditations in the field. If accredited, what was the date of the most recent review?	
Non-applicable. The student affairs profession does not have any external accreditation available. The program does follow the Master’s Level Student Affairs Professional Preparation Programs Guidelines developed by the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS). 	
A.3 Summarize analyses and resulting steps taken since the last review period to improve program academic quality, with particular emphasis on improving students’ performance on student learning outcome indicators.  What processes/data provided the impetus for these changes, and what have been the results?  (Make particular reference to Part I, B.1)	
Using the information provided in sections Part I, B.1; B.4a; and B.4b, the curriculum has been significantly revised and enhanced since the last review period. Based on the feedback received from graduates of the program as well as from the employers of those graduates, and as alluded to previously, the program has been changed from a 48-hour curriculum in which all students were required to take the exact set of courses to a 42-hour program with an eleven-course core and a set of six restricted electives in which students pick the three electives that best meet their individual career needs. Specifically, three courses (CNS 555, CNS 556, and CNS 598) were significantly re-designed and oriented more explicitly toward student affairs professionals (they became CNS 605, CNS 593, CNS 594, respectively). Two courses (CNS 552 and CNS 558) were dropped altogether. Finally, two new courses were developed in order to meet the evolving needs of graduate and employers: CNS 603 (Critical Issues and Strategies in Student Affairs and Higher Education) and CNS 604 (Resource Management in Student Affairs and Higher Education). These changes, which were all based on program assessment activities described in Part 1, Section B, can be seen by comparing the old curriculum with the current one; i.e., the new curriculum more cogently aligns with the mission of the program as explained in Part I, Section A.:	
The curriculum at the time of the last program review:
CNS 552	
Testing and Assessment in Counseling	

CNS 555	
Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling	

CNS 556	
Career Counseling	

CNS 558	
Counseling Theories	

CNS 571	
Introduction to Student Affairs	

CNS 572	
The College Student experience	

CNS 574	
Student Development in Higher Education	

CNS 577	
Counseling Concepts and Applications for Student Affairs Professionals	

CNS 585	
Leadership and Administration in Student Affairs	

CNS 589	
Group Dynamics in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 598	
Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling	

CNS 610	
Assessment and Accountability in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 670	
Parameters of Law in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 590	
Practicum	

CNS 595	
Internship (two 3-hour Internships required)	

Total Hours Required: 48
The current curriculum:
The core:
CNS 571	
Introduction to Student Affairs	

CNS 572	
The College Student Experience	

CNS 574	
Student Development in Higher Education	

CNS 577	
Counseling Concepts and Applications for Student Affairs Professionals	

CNS 585	
Leadership and Administration in Student Affairs	

CNS 594	
Research Methods in Student Affairs	

CNS 605	
Social and Cultural Diversity in Higher Education	

CNS 610	
Assessment and Accountability in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 670	
Parameters of Law in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 595	
Internship (two 3-hour Internships required)	

Restricted electives:

CNS 581	

Select three courses from the following six courses

International Students and Student Services	

CNS 589	
Group Dynamics in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 593	
Career Development in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 603	
Critical Issues and Strategies in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 604	
Resource Management in Student Affairs and Higher Education	

CNS 675	
Advanced Career Counseling and Services Administration	

Total Hours Required: 42	

B. Program Contribution to Institutional Recruitment, Persistence and Graduation Goals (not to exceed two pages)	
B.1 Discuss trends and associated factors influencing the program’s contribution to institutional efforts to attract, enroll and graduate high-quality students.  Make reference to Part I, B.3 and C.1.  As appropriate, include data on part-time and/or transfer students, online delivery, etc.  Discuss any initiatives undertaken (recruitment, advising, student financial support, community-building, etc.) to enhance the programmatic climate.	
In order to attract, enroll and graduate high-quality students, the curriculum must mirror the reality of the knowledge and skills graduates will need to be successful in the profession after completion of the program. By providing the profession with graduates who are able to successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead, employers are much more willing to hire graduates of the program. Happy, employed graduates who exceed the expectations of the student affairs departments and units that hire them constitutes the best marketing. This is the best way to attract, enroll and graduate high-quality students. The restricted electives component allows students the flexibility they need to create a program that meets their individual needs. The program tracks all graduates and maintains extensive records regarding employment status and contact information. The program is currently in its 26th year; even though the program is marketed extensively through listservs and social media (in addition to relevant recruitment events at conferences and professional meetings) networking, word-of-mouth testimonials, and referrals now account for approximately 75% of current enrollments. But the foundation is the quality and national reputation of the program itself. As such, every effort is made to maintain a curriculum that accurately reflects the current needs of the profession. Toward this end, the 48-hour master’s degree program in Student Affairs in Higher Education was designed to meet the 1994 CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) Standards. CACREP no longer accredits student affairs programs; the organization focuses exclusively on counseling programs. Most master’s degree programs currently follow the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) Standards for Master’s Level Student Affairs Professional Preparation Programs (http://www.cas.edu/blog_home.asp?Display =20) The MAE degree program in Student Affairs in Higher Education can meet the CAS Standards with a 42-hour program. This reduction in also consistent with national trends for comparable programs across the nation and will help the program be more competitive with respect to the recruitment of graduate students. The required ‘core’ keeps the program in alignment with applicable CAS Standards while providing a solid education in the knowledge, skills and competencies associated with the student affairs profession in the 21st century. These courses form the common foundation all student affairs professionals need to be successful in the field. Requiring students to choose three courses from these six restricted electives allows them to customize the program to their particular educational and career needs. Different areas of student affairs work require different specialized knowledge, skills and competencies. Students who plan to work with international students, for example, need a different configuration of course than students who plan to focus more intently on career services. 

	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Applied (First-Time Graduate Students):	17	21	25	24	23		
	Admitted (First-Time Graduate Students):	6	6	15	19	11		
	Enrolled (First-Time Graduate Students):	6	5	13	18	9		
	Average UGGPA/GRE of entering students (GR programs):	3.13 (N=35) / 974 (N=5)	3.16 (N=31) / N/A (N=2)	3.23 (N=31) / N/A (N=2)	3.26 (N=41) / N/A (N=0)	3.15 (N=43) / N/A (N=0)		
	Average WKU GPA of graduates	3.79 (N=14)	3.71 (N=14)	3.87 (N=9)	3.82 (N=10)	3.90 (N=19)		
	Percentage of full-time students in program graduating w/in three years (GR programs):	7 of 9 = 77.8%	4 of 4 = 100%	4 of 5 = 80.0%	2 of 2 = 100%	9 of 11 = 81.8%		
	Percentage of part-time students in program graduating w/in six years (GR programs):	6 of 6 = 100%	1 of 1 = 100%	1 of 1 = 100%	1 of 1 = 100%			

C. Adequacy and Credentials of Program Faculty (not to exceed current page)	
C.1. List current number and FTE of faculty and graduate teaching assistants contributing to the program, by type of credential.   Total FTEF (i.e., sum of rows 2, 4, 6 and 8) should equal the value entered in Part I, D.1., row 3.	
			
	Personnel Type:		All	Terminally Degreed	Master's with 18 Hours in Discipline	Alternative Qualifications		
	FT, tenure eligible faculty	N	6	6				
		FTE	3.3	3.3				
	FT, non-tenure eligible faculty	N						
		FTE						
	PT and adjunct faculty	N	2					
		FTE	0.5					
	Graduate instructor assistants	N						
		FTE						
			
C.2 Describe the nature of alternative qualifications used to credential program faculty.	
Alternative qualifications have not been used to credential faculty.	
C.3 Discuss the allocation of faculty teaching resources over the review period.  In particular, include consideration of the percentage of program courses taught by (1) full-time faculty, and (2) terminally-degreed faculty.	
During the period covered by this review, all courses have been taught by terminally-degreed faculty. Moreover, during this timeframe regular courses were taught by adjuncts only once: Dr. Joelle Carter - CNS 604 (Resource Management in Student Affairs and Higher Education) – Fall Semester 2014. Internship (CNS 595), which is not considered a regular course, has been taught (supervised) by adjuncts five times: Dr. Gerald Napoles, Fall 2104; Dr. Joelle Cater, Spring 2015; Dr. Robinson-Nichols, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016; and Dr. James McCaslin, Spring 2016. All other course have been taught by Dr. Aaron W. Hughey and Dr. Monica G. Burke. Unlike some other graduate programs, the use of qualified adjuncts (student affairs professionals with terminal degrees who hold senior positions in the field) to teach graduate courses in the student affairs program is considered an asset. Having students exposed to the viewpoints and perspectives of successful, current practitioners in the field significantly enhances their overall educational experience. 	
C.4 Indicate the FTEF salaries of program faculty supported through external grants and contracts.	
Program faculty salaries are not supported through external grants and contracts.	

	
Graduate Programs Only	
D. Contributions to Faculty and Student Scholarly Productivity (not to exceed two pages)	
D.1 Summarize the contribution of faculty to the output and success of students over the review period.	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Average program faculty total course load (contact hrs/semester):	3	3	3	3	3		
	Average number of graduate advisees per program faculty:	20	18	18	25	28		
	Average thesis/dissertation advising load per program faculty:	1	1	2	3	2		
	Note: Dr. Aaron W. Hughey and Dr. Monica G. Burke consistently serve on dissertation committees for students enrolled in WKU’s doctoral program in Educational Leadership – either as chairs or as committee members. They are not compensated for this service.		
D.2 Summarize trends in student support and collaborative scholarship over the review period.	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Number of students supported by institutional assistantships (MAP):	1	1	2	2	1		
	Number of students supported by student affairs departments/units	19	17	18	19	20		
	Average total value of departmental support:	9,000	9,000	10,000	9,500	10,000		
	Number of students supported by external grants and contracts:	0	0	0	0	0		
	Note: None of the student affairs majors are supported by traditional institutional assistantships. (Traditional in the sense that they are provided through the academic department in which the program is housed using institutional funds). Each year about 40-50% of the graduate students in the program work in temporary part-time positions (typically 20 hours per week – similar to institutional assistantships) in student affairs departments and units across campus (funded entirely by those departments and units), about 30% have full-time or part-time jobs at this institution, at another institution, or off-campus, and about 20% support themselves through loans or other means. Occasionally qualified students have been able to take advantage of the Minority Assistance Program provided by the Graduate School; this accounts for the numbers in the first row in the above table.		
D.3 Describe the extent of student scholarly productivity over the review period.	
			
	Academic Year:	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16		
	Number of student refereed publications, juried exhibitions or recitals, etc.:	5	7	6	8	7		
	Number of non-refereed presentations, exhibitions, technical reports, etc.:	2	4	3	7	7		
	Number of theses/dissertations submitted:	-	-	-	-	-		
	Note: The student affairs program does not require a thesis. Students are encouraged to present at state, regional and national conferences. 		
D.4 Discuss the relationship between allocation of program personnel and fiscal resources and student scholarly productivity summarized in D.1., D.2, and D.3 above.  Include, as applicable, specific reference to trends and approaches in allocation of graduate assistantships, selection of graduate assistants, and the strategic use of graduate assistantships to student scholarly outcomes.	
The program coordinator works with all admitted graduate students to identify part-time work opportunities in student affairs departments and units across campus that best match their career aspirations and financial needs. The master’s degree in student affairs and higher education is considered a career preparation program; developing practitioners has always been the primary focus. Those who pursue the degree want to work in the student affairs profession, providing services and support for college students. And whereas a significant number of program graduates have gone on to pursue doctoral studies at a number of different institutions (and are academically prepared to do so), the primary focus of the program remains on preparing them to provide an ever-expanding array of student services to college students at all levels. 
The student affair profession in general, and the student affairs program in particular, adheres to the practitioner-scholarship model: “Scholarship, which includes research, academic writing, and creative scholarly pursuits, is a key part of the work of most faculty members. As a result, practitioners often feel that scholarship is just a faculty endeavor; the only people allowed, encouraged, or expected to produce scholarship are those with terminal degrees pursuing tenure. However, an entire realm of scholarship, known as practitioner-scholarship, intends to eliminate this false dichotomy and open the world of scholarship up to any and all practitioners to engage in. Practitioner-scholarship acknowledges that those working directly with students have insights that are valuable. Practitioner-scholars have the capacity to contribute to the body of knowledge that informs the profession. This includes documenting and critiquing theory-in-practice (something that a full-time, tenure-track faculty member may not be able to observe directly), philosophical or values-based essays on some area of practice or purpose of the field, and even empirical research studies conducted by practitioners. This framework stems from the need of the profession to advance its specialized knowledge, particularly knowledge that can impact the day-to-day approaches of student affairs practitioners.” (http://learnforwardblog.orgsync.com/everyones-a-scholar-turning-student-affairs-practice-into-scholarship/). 

E. Analysis of Program Status and Potential (not to exceed current page)	
E.1 What do you see as particular strengths of the program, and why?	
As demonstrated by the feedback received by graduates of the program as well as those who employ those graduates, the student affairs program does an exceptional job of preparing students for a career in the student affairs profession. Student affairs professionals play a key role in recruiting students, retaining them to graduation, and helping them find appropriate employment after graduation. Today’s college students have a variety of needs that academic faculty are well equipped to handle (and they are not necessarily interested in providing the kinds of support and services college students increasingly need). Student affairs professionals allow faculty to concentrate on their teaching responsibilities by helping college students better negotiate the collegiate environment. Moreover, and as referenced previously, the program contributes significantly to the diversity of the graduate student population at WKU. Over 25% of the graduates of the program during the time period covered by this review were African-American. As these graduates become employed in front line and mid-management professional positions in student affairs and higher education, and especially as they progress in their careers and move up the organizational hierarchy, they help to add diversity to the administrative ranks in higher education. This helps the profession in a number of ways; the most beneficial reward being the role models these graduates become for college students from under-represented populations and aspiring student affairs and higher education administrators and educators.  	
E.2 What are perceived to be weaknesses in the program, either by you or by others (external evaluators, accreditors, etc.)?	
A ‘weakness’ of the program involves the inability to effectively compete with other programs that have the financial resources to more effectively recruit the best students. Although we are recognized as being one of the best programs in the nation, and this is substantiated by the feedback we receive from our graduates and their employers, it is difficult to recruit students – especially minority students – when they have been essentially offered a ‘full-ride’ by other programs. WKU has historically done a very good job of attracting high quality students with tremendous potential, but this has basically been through referrals and through the efforts of our alumni who are now employed across the country and around the world. The student affairs program has been in place since 1993; to date we have 260 alumni of the program and over 90% of those alumni continue to be employed in the profession. As the numbers over the last two years covered by this review indicate, we are doing well at the moment recruiting graduate students into the program. But as costs continue to escalate, recruitment will become more challenging. More creative ways need to be found to make graduate school more affordable and accessible, especially for talented students from lower socio-economic families.	
E.3 Where do you see opportunities for growth and/or improvement in the program in the near term?  What would be required to realize these opportunities?	
The biggest areas for growth involve the continued expansion of the online components of the program and the further development of graduate certificate programs that complement the master’s degree and enhance the knowledge and skills of graduates in specific areas (like providing more targeted career services and working more effectively with international students, the focus of the two certificate programs currently offered in conjunction with the degree).  At the present time, about 30% of the program can be completed online; in the future that percentage could realistically be increased to 50%. Consideration is also being given to the development of a graduate certificate program in community and technical college administration, as this is where a substantial amount of the growth and expansion is projected to take place in higher education over the next two decades. Finally, the program is working to expand the internship opportunities available to students in the program. Specifically, faculty are exploring ways to provide more experiences at community and technical colleges and in international settings. These kinds of experiences are becoming more valuable to the student affairs profession as significant job growth is expected to occur in these sectors over the next decade. 
It is also important to note that “growth” implies more than a numerical dimension (enrollments) or employment opportunities (economic viability); the program provides opportunities for students to develop their capacity to assist in the development of skills that are critical to the future of higher education in general and student affairs in particular, as noted by the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA): “Those who hold that the only purpose of college is to get a job miss the “bottom line” value of helping students find meaning and purpose. Purpose is the “what” of our lives – the ends or goals we pursue. Meaning is the “why” that helps us understand who we are and helps us to choose goals we will find fulfilling. College is often about only goals – choosing a major, getting good grades, getting into grad school, getting a job – with little time spent on helping students explore what will give meaning to their lives. College is a time of transition that brings special challenges. Students live under intense pressure to live up to expectations of others, to let go of the comfortable security of childhood, to grapple with the tension between freedom and responsibility while constantly comparing themselves to their peers and coming up short. This search for identity and the resulting pressure result in unsafe sexual behaviors, drug and alcohol abuse, depression and other mental health issues and, in too many case, suicide. Student affairs is ideally positioned to help students find both meaning and purpose on their way to graduation so that they enter the world of work ready for life.”
(https://www.naspa.org/about/blog/five-megatrends-threatening-student-affairs-and-how-to-turn-them-into-oppor)
	
E.4 What (if any) are potential threats to program viability or quality in the future?  What needs to be addressed in the near term to mitigate these threats?	
The biggest threat to the continued viability of the program revolves around the increasing costs associated with attending graduate school. This is a general threat that is not limited to the student affairs program, but it needs to be addressed if we are to continue to meet the needs of future college students. Also, the rise of completely online programs can be seen as a potential threat in that many potential students may see this delivery method as a more economical way of acquiring what they perceive to be a comparable credential. Although the percentage of coursework that can be completed online in WKU’s program has increased, it is not the intention of the faculty to offer the student affairs program completely through this format. Philosophically, the faculty feels strongly that face-to-face interaction is the only viable way to teach some of the knowledge and skills considered essential to effective student affairs practice. Feedback from the graduates of the program as well as those who employ those graduates supports this perspective.	

F. Response to Previous Academic Program Review and Goals for the Future (not to exceed current page)	
F.1 What was the recommendation put forward by the APR Committee during the last review of the program.  What issues (if any) were raised by the APR Committee at that time? In what ways have the program, department, college and/or university addressed these issues?	
The recommendation from the 2009-10 program review was “Review to Enhance.” Since that assessment, the number of online course offerings has increased, overall enrollment has increased slightly (with a current upward trend), and the GRE is no longer required as an admissions requirement as its utility was considered highly questionable in predicting success in the program or subsequent employment after matriculation. Moreover, there are now two full-time faculty dedicated to the program, instead of one as noted in the last report, which puts the program in alignment with applicable Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) guidelines. The program is still marginally dependent on adjuncts to teach some courses, but this is seen as a strength of the program as exposure to qualified professionals from the field serving as instructors provides more comprehensive exposure to a variety of perspectives and viewpoints. It was specifically noted in the last review that “the only obstacle given for the program is financial for departmental expenditures are outpacing budgeted resources.” This remains true to some extent, although the addition of a second full-time faculty member and enhanced financial support for students in the program by student affairs departments and units across campus tends to offset the lack of formal assistantships available through the departmental budget. Finally, it was noted in the previous review that “a future direction for the program is the establishment of a new certificate graduate program in Career Counseling, in collaboration with the Career Counseling Center.” This has been realized and enrollment in the graduate certificate program in career services is steady. In conclusion, the summary assessment that “the recommendation is to review to enhance the program in the areas of graduate assistantships, tuition waivers, and additional faculty lines.” It should be noted that the program could still benefit from additional emphasis on all three of these items.
 	
F.2 List the goals for continued program improvement over the next six years (prior to the next program review).  What implementation steps will need to occur for these goals to be met?	
			
	Goals:	Implementation Steps:		
	1.
	Continue to keep the curriculum relevant to contemporary student affairs professional practice.	Survey student affairs professionals to ascertain their insights regarding the evolving knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to the evolving needs of contemporary college students.		
	2.
	Provide more financial support for graduate students in the program.	Develop additional partnerships between the program and student affairs departments and units that support the graduate students in the program. 		
	3.
	Develop a graduate certificate program in community and technical college administration.	Collaborate with student affairs professionals and related administrators at Southcentral Community and Technical College to ascertain the appropriate curricular requirements for a graduate certificate program in community and technical college administration.		
	4.
	Develop more effective strategies for helping graduates of the program take advantage of emerging career opportunities.	Develop partnerships and collaborative arrangements with student affairs professional organizations and other entities (such as institutional alumni associations) that can serve to enhance career advancement. 		
	5.	Provide more of the curricular content in the program in an online and/or hybrid format.	Continue to develop an online alternative and/or hybrid format for existing courses so that more of the curriculum can be delivered this way. Program faculty will immediately explore strategies for gradually increasing the number of online/hybrid courses.		

COURSE	
CNS 552	
CNS 555	
CNS 556	
CNS 558	
CNS 571	
CNS 572	
CNS 574	
CNS 577	
CNS 585	
CNS 589	
CNS 590	
CNS 595	
CNS 598	
CNS 610	
CNS 670	

Name (ID)	Credit Hrs
in Program	Program SCHP	FTEF =
Credit Hrs/
18(GR) 21(UG)
(typical 4/3 load)	
Full-Time, Tenure Eligible, Terminal Degree	
Bratton, Imelda (800799304)	9	21	0.5	
Burke, Monica (800021602)	9	147	0.5	
Dye, Lacretia (800799130)	15	192	0.8	
Hughey, Aaron (800018601)	18	279	1.0	
Mason, Cynthia (800016126)	6	75	0.3	
Wolf, Cheryl (800905101)	3	36	0.2	
Part-Time (or Full-Time Staff/PT Faculty), No Terminal Degree	
McCaslin, James (800019458)	3	27	0.2	
Robinson-Wright, Ursula (800781302)	6	51	0.3