assignment 6

HEA 610 Module Six Short Paper Rubric

Overview: Higher education is at a crossroads. There are tremendous forces of change that are pulling at the heartstrings of how higher education works, who has access to it, who pays for it, and how it is valued in the workplace. The forces for change can come from both the external and internal environments. As Bontrager, Ingersoll, and Ingersoll explain in Strategic Enrollment Management, “Because institutions react to these forces, it is critical to have a firm grasp on the nature of the forces in order to make appropriate adaptations.” This paper will examine these forces, as defined in policy issues paper by the American Association of State Colleges Universities (the professional association of state college administrators), with an emphasis on what these changes mean at the campus level. Nearly all of these policy issues impact the strategic enrollment plan.

Prompt: Submit a short paper on higher education policy. Review the article Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2014. Select one policy issue and do additional research to find at least two articles from publications that focus on higher education and explore how the institutions are addressing the issue. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Current Issue. Summarize the policy issue facing colleges and universities. Reflect on why this issue is important in the broader context of education policy.

II. Impact on Institution. Explain how this issue impacts your chosen institution, with special consideration of the impact on strategic enrollment planning and resources.

III. Implications for the Future. Describe how this issue has implications across your institution. How do you see your institution (and particularly enrollment management) being changed by this issue in 10 or 20 years?

Guidelines for Submission: This short paper should follow these formatting guidelines: 3–5 pages in length with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA-style citations.

Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Current Issue Provides an in-depth summary of a current issue and cites examples and resources

Identifies a current issue but summary is minimal

Does not identify a current issue 15

Impact on Institution Explains the impact the issue has on the institution and provides evidence to support explanation

Explains the impact the issue has on the institution but the explanation is minimal or not supported

Does not explain the impact the issue has on the institution

15

Implications for the Future Describes the implications the issue has for the future and provides evidence to support description

Describes the implications the issue has for the future but does not provide support or description is minimal

Does not describe the implications the issue has for the future

15

Critical Thinking Draws logical conclusions that are justified with evidence

Draws logical conclusions, but does not defend with evidence

Does not draw logical conclusions 20

Research Incorporates scholarly resources that effectively reflect depth and breadth of research

Incorporates very few scholarly resources that reflect depth and breadth of research

Does not incorporate scholarly resources that reflect depth and breadth of research

15

Articulation of Response Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, or syntax

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, or syntax that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, or syntax that prevent understanding of ideas

20

Earned Total 100%