Siena College
Assessment Plan and Report - Administrative
Planning Date: Spring 2009 Administrator Name: Jeanne Obermayer
Reporting Date: Spring 2010 Title: Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean
of Students
Department Mission: The mission of the Office of the Dean of Students is to serve as a central campus resource, assist
students in the management of issues or concerns, and aid in the achievement of personal and academic success. Through
partnerships with students, enforcement of policy, administration of the student conduct review process, and sponsorship of
programs and training sessions that enhance the understanding of rights and responsibilities, the office incorporates the
Franciscan and Catholic tradition to foster responsible conduct and personal accountability, strengthen skills in conflict
management and resolution, and focus on the moral and ethical growth and development of the individual within the greater
community.
Stakeholder involvement in the following (√):
__x_ Mission _x__Goals __x_Assessment Procedures __x_ Changes
Assessment Plan AY 2009-10 Assessment Report
Department/Program Assessment Procedures Assessment Results Use of Results
Goals/Outcomes (Attach rubric,
Expected questionnaire, or
measurement instrument
if used)
Goal 1: Dean of Dean of Students Feedback Students involved in the Student Conduct These results will be used
Students/To develop and survey; Health Survey; Review Process are asked to complete an to enhance and focus
enforce standards of Educational Sanction anonymous, confidential feedback survey specific training of
conduct in a fair and and/or Personal Reflection on their experience with the process. Of conduct hearing officers,
reasonable manner Essay Learning Rubric; those who completed the survey: student conduct review
consistent with the Statistics from Judicial 85% of students agree/strongly board, and residential life
Franciscan and Catholic Officer software agree that they have a better and public safety staff.
tradition which provides understanding of why the
learning experiences for invitational policy at issue In addition, particular
students./Understanding exists. emphasis will be placed
of consequences of 68.3% agree or strongly agree on strengthening our
personal actions and that they think more about the intentional sanctions to
purposes of institutional effect of their actions on others enhance self reflection
policies; Understanding in the Siena Community that and integration of
of the effect of their they did before the situation Franciscan and Catholic
behavior on others; occurred. (An increase of 9.7% values.
Student Conduct cases from last year’s survey results.)
completed in timely 87.5% agree or strongly agree Focus will be centered
manner that while they realize they have on improving the
individual rights, they also have College’s Mediation
a responsibility to protect and Program.
maintain an environment for
learning and living. A review of the role of
the Student Advocate
85.9% agree or strongly agree
will be done in the fall,
that they realize they may
utilizing students, staff
exercise their rights in a
and Student Conduct
reasonable manner that will not
Review Board members.
violate the College’s Franciscan
and Catholic traditions or
infringe upon the rights of
other members of the College.
74.5% agree or strongly agree
AVPAA Spring 2009
they have a better
understanding of how the
College’s behavioral
expectations are shaped by
Siena’s Franciscan and catholic
values.
74.7% agree or strongly agree
that they have a better
understanding of Siena’s
Franciscan and Catholic values
as a result of this incident (an
increase of 4% from last year’s
survey results.)
77% agree or strongly agree
that the amount of time spent
in the conduct process was
reasonable. (An increase of
4.4% from last year’s survey
results.)
75% agree or strongly agree
they think more about the
consequences of their actions
than they did before this
situation occurred. (An increase
of 4.1% from last year’s survey
results.)
73.3% agree or strongly agree
that they feel the
resolution/sanctions imposed
will help them learn from this
situation. (An increase of 13%
from last year’s survey results.)
35.2% agree or strongly agree
they understand the
rationale/decision in response
to an appeal. (A decrease of
8.1% from last year’s survey
results.)
69% agree or strongly agree
that the discussion during the
process and/or sanction helped
them better understand why
their conduct was
inappropriate.
88% agree or strongly agree
they were treated with respect
throughout the review of their
case. (This is a decrease of 7.9%
from last year’s survey results.
130 students were assigned
educational sanctions (papers,
projects, etc.)
64 students were assigned
community service as a
sanction.
An independent outside consultant was
engaged to do a program assessment of
the Student Conduct Process. He did a
full review of the process and
components and compared Siena’s
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conduct process against national
benchmarks and best practices. To quote
his report of 4/29/2010:
“Student experiences with the conduct
system
Survey results of the Siena College student
experience with the student conduct
system are overall favorable. Specifically
(numbers are approximate and responses
reflect either “strongly agree” or “agree”):
96% of the students responded
that they were treated with
respect by the administrative
officer who reviewed their case
with them
86% of the students responded
that they were treated with
respect by the student conduct
review board during their
hearing
92% of the students responded
that privacy regarding their
student conduct matter was
appropriately maintained
95% of the students responded
that they were made
aware/informed of their rights
and responsibilities in the
student conduct system
86% of the students responding
who represent historically
underrepresented groups felt
that their case was handled
fairly and not impacted by their
group status
75% of the students responding
who participate in
intercollegiate athletic teams felt
that their case was handled
fairly and not impacted by their
group status
The survey results also reflect the
following information related to student
learning in the student conduct process:
60% of the students responded
that the resolution of their case
and sanctions imposed will help
them learn from the situation
they were involved in
71% of the students responded
that they think more now about
the potential consequences of
their actions than they did
before the incident they were
involved in
71% of the students responded
that they have a better
understanding of Siena’s
Franciscan and Catholic values
AVPAA Spring 2009
and mission as a result of the
incident
These results are consistent with the
feedback received from the students
interviewed during the consultant visit.
Specifically, the students perceive the
student conduct review board to be
objective and fair in their treatment of
them while in the student conduct
process. Importantly, the results also
reveal significant student learning from
their conduct review process experience.
Summary
This report reflects a comprehensive
updated analysis of Siena College’s code
of student conduct and review process
since the consultant’s last visit in January
2005. It includes a review of the
documents referenced in the beginning of
the report along with 1 ½ days of
extensive interviews with students, faculty
and staff that are involved in, work with
or are any way impacted by the code and
review process. The College has
considered and implemented many of the
consultant’s recommendations in his
original report resulting in enhancements
and improvements to the system. The
system not only serves to promote and
maintain a positive and productive
learning and living environment, but also
engages students on a holistic level with
their development and education. It also
reflects current and best practices in the
field of student conduct administration.”
Mr. Fischer also made recommendations
on how to enhance and more effectively
utilize the College Mediation Program,
run through this office; staff training;
dissemination of policies, and the role of
the “student advocate” in Student
Conduct Review Board Hearings.
Goal 2: Dean of C.O.R.E. Social Norms 99.10% of first year students The results gathered will
Students/To provide Survey; Siena College completed AlcoholEdu. be used to continued he
alcohol and other drug Health Survey; NSSE; There was an increase in the Social Norms campaign
education, accurate Educational Sanction number/percentage of students to reduce high risk
information, policies and Learning Rubric; Statistics reporting drinking alcohol once behaviors, both alcohol
intervention to the Siena from Judicial Officer a week or less often. This was and drug related.
community in order to software; AlcoholEdu substantiated by both the
reduce negative, illegal reports CORE report and Health The College will
and/or high-risk conduct Survey. continue to utilize
and promote a safe, o 75.5% (Core , spring AlcoholEdu as a
healthy and learning 21010) of students population wide alcohol
conducive environment/ report drinking once duration program for all
All first year students a week or less (as entering students (first
successfully complete compared to 72.8% year and transfers, for
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alcohol education course; in spring 2009 the first time this year.)
increase in students (CORE)
reporting drinking 4 or There was at least a holding Focus will be given on
fewer or none at all; steady if not an increase in the how to assist students in
Increasing number of number/percentage of students making the connections
students reporting reporting drinking 4 or fewer or between
drinking alcohol once a none at all. alcohol/substance
week or less; Reduction in o 54.6% of students use/abuse to success,
number of first year reported drinking 4 personally and
students with repeat or fewer or none at academically.
offenses; Majority of all on the 2010
students articulate CORE in
relationship between comparison to 48.2%
alcohol and/or other drug in 2009.
use and academic/social o 59.!% of students
problems reported drinking for
or fewer or none at
all on the 2009 Siena
Health Survey. This
represents a very
slight drop form
2008 (59.7%.)
However this still
represents a 4.9%
increase from 2007
(54.2%.)
o An important statistic
to note is the increase
in the correlating
statistic of the
percentage of
students perceived to
be drinking 4 or
fewer or none at
(38.9% in 2009,
37.2% in 2008 and
27.5% in 2007, Siena
Health Surveys.)
Getting accurate
information/data out
to students on actual
drinking reported
helps lower the
perceived normative
behavior, resulting in
a reduction in high
risk consumption.
Goal achieved.
There were 39 first year
students who were repeat
alcohol policy offenders
(responsible) in 2009-2010 in
comparison to 45 in 2008-2009.
No formal assessment data for measuring
student ability to articulate relationship
between alcohol and/or other drug use
and academic/social problems. Students
were assigned reflection papers when
involved in drug use on the effects of pot
use on motivation. Many students shared
being shocked by the relationship and
articulate how they now realized their
AVPAA Spring 2009
success may have been impacted. No
quantitative results, only anecdotal.
Goal 3: Dean of Students/ Training evaluations; This particular goal became a divisional These areas were not
To provide structured Educational Sanction initiative in fall 2009. available to use, as the
leadership development and/or Personal Reflection The overall leadership development and process will take
for all students that work Essay Learning Rubric; understanding of our Franciscan mission additional time to
for and with the Dean of Service Learning Survey of all students working within the implement due to a
Students’ Office-Student under development in Division of Student affairs became a larger scope and involved
Conduct Review Survey Monkey priority. Representatives of all staff and students.
Board/Human Rights departments within the division are Beginning in fall 2010,
Committee members, developing a common leadership and evaluations of the
Advocates and Student mission training beginning in fall 2010. training program could
Mediators. Using the The Dean of Students office is an integral be used for
CAS standards for part of this program’s development measurement.
leadership development,
the Office will develop an
on-going program to
expose these students to
the qualities of leadership
and its practice. This is
in an effort to provide a
uniform experience to all
those engaged in the
efforts of the DOS.
/Appreciates and
demonstrates integration
of our Franciscan values
of respect for the dignity
of others, and
commitment to civic
responsibility;
Understands the need for
and demonstrated
utilization of
collaboration, teamwork
and trust as a successful
leadership
strategy/Articulates and
understands the need for
leaders to serve as role
models and change
makers for the common
good.
How do the results reported above support the mission and goals of Siena College?
The Dean of Students office incorporates into our daily interactions with students the College’s Franciscan and Catholic values. The
results on the Dean of Students Conduct Process feedback survey reflect students substantiate that is the case.
The Dean’s office is using best practices in our field, as demonstrated by our outside review. The College mission strives to provide
the best learning environment for our students and our work supports that.
Do your results indicate the need for change? If so, describe the change, the evidence that supports the change, the
anticipated cost for implementing the change, and the ways in which improved operations will benefit Siena.
The evidence supports continuing our work to enhance our success. No new costs anticipated.
A completed copy of this document should be forwarded electronically to the appropriate supervisor and to the Office of
Institutional Effectiveness (pbrunner@siena.edu).
AVPAA Spring 2009