Final Milestone

HEA 560: Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a written policy proposal. Higher education administrators are often charged with the responsibility of crafting higher education policies. This task requires that administrators possess the skills and abilities to successfully collaborate with various stakeholders throughout the policy development process. Throughout this process, it is imperative that higher education administrators consider possible impact on 1) funding attainment, 2) the institution’s mission and vision, 3) state and federal regulations, and 4) external and internal stakeholders. In this course, you will model a given role at a prescribed institution, a role which will also be positioned as a stakeholder in making policy recommendations at the institution. You will demonstrate your ability to craft a policy that will influence the institution’s enrollment, retention, and completion rates, while maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations. The project is divided into four milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, Five and Seven. The final project will be submitted in Module Nine. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 HEA-560-01: Analyze higher education policies for their impact on student attainment, retention, and completion

 HEA-560-02: Create a higher education policy that addresses student population, maintains compliance with state and federal regulations, and is aligned to the mission and vision

 HEA-560-03: Recommend strategies for the implementation of higher education policies that ensure alignment with the mission and compliance with state and federal regulations

 HEA-560-04: Evaluate higher education policy to predict influence on federal and state funding appropriations and other funding sources at the local and national level

 HEA-560-05: Evaluate institutional impacts of higher education policy on internal and external stakeholders

Prompt For the purpose of this exercise, you will identify yourself with one of the following roles at a small, highly selective (less than 2,000 students), Bachelor’s degree- granting public institution:

 Director of Enrollment Management

 Director of Student Activities

 Faculty in the Business School

 Director of Institutional Effectiveness

The institution’s mission and vision is as follows:

Our college is an institution of higher education that promotes student learning through quality education and services while fostering personal growth, leadership, and opportunity to a culturally diverse community. Our college educates intellectually and culturally enriched individuals to be successful in their careers and contribute to their communities.

In your role, you have been asked to join a group of stakeholders tasked with crafting an admissions policy, in the form of a written proposal, for the college president. The design of the policy must frame the intent that admissions become less selective in order to increase the institution’s student population, while maintaining compliance with higher education regulations. Using the above parameters, you will create an admissions policy for the institution that is based on a current higher education regulation and that guides future student recruitment and enrollment. You will discuss the policy’s implications on enrollment, retention, and completion and describe how the policy aligns with the provided institution’s mission and vision statement. Additionally, evaluate how maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations influences your development of the admissions policy. You will also identify possible implications and consequences of the policy for internal and external stakeholders. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Introduction a. Describe the proposed policy on student attainment, retention, and completion. How does the policy articulate the intent that admissions

become less selective in order to increase student enrollment, while maintaining compliance with higher education regulations? [HEA-560-02] b. Describe the intended outcomes of the policy on student attainment, retention, and completion. Consider the current state of the institution:

What are some reasons for implementing this policy? What are the potential impacts to the institution if the policy is not implemented? How might the policy alter the current state of the institution? [HEA-560-01]

c. Articulate evidence of how elements of the mission and vision were considered when recommending the policy. Consider: What is the relationship between the mission and vision of the institution and the crafting of policy? Why is it necessary to consider the mission and vision when crafting policy? [HEA-560-03]

d. Justify how the policy does not conflict with the mission and vision of the institution using supporting evidence. Are there any predictions you could make regarding possible impacts to the culture of the institution as a result of the policy implementation? [HEA-560-03]

e. Describe how variables of state and federal regulations were considered and included in the development of the policy. What are the state and federal regulations that apply to enrollment, retention, and completion in higher education? Considering the policy, do the regulations seem logical? Why or why not? [HEA-560-04]

f. Recommend internal and external stakeholders to participate in the crafting of the policy and what their roles will be in the crafting of the policy. You might also consider the possible impacts of the policy: Which internal and external stakeholders should be invited to attend? What are the roles of the internal and external stakeholders? [HEA-560-05]

II. Development a. Explain how the policy communicates the intent that admissions become less selective while maintaining compliance with higher education

regulations. Be sure to support your explanation with evidence. Consider how you might best ensure effective communication to different stakeholders. [HEA-560-03]

b. Design an action plan that will result in necessary responses from internal and external stakeholders to the implementation of the policy. Based on possible consequences of the implementation of policy, you might consider predicting potential responses from stakeholders. In preparation for these responses, what are some proactive strategies that could impact future decision making regarding the implementation of policy? [HEA- 560-05]

c. Describe additional resources, for and from internal and external stakeholders, that the institution will need to provide and identify based on implementation of the policy. Consider comparing and contrasting the original policy, as depicted within the mission and vision, and the new policy. What are some of the justifications for the additional resources? [HEA-560-05]

III. Impact a. Analyze the impact of institutional operations for increasing enrollment, retention, and completion through implementation of this policy. [HEA-

560-01] b. Evaluate how the policy will meet the requirement of increasing enrollment, retention, and completion. With regard to evaluating the impact of

the policy on increasing enrollment, retention, and completion, you might also think about what activities could be organized to sustainably achieve those ends. [HEA-560-01]

IV. Conclusions a. Describe how this policy may impact the future demographics of the institution. What are the key considerations of the stakeholders, culture,

enrollment, retention, and completion regarding future demographics of the institution? [HEA-560-01] b. Predict the policy’s potential to alter the mission of the institution. [HEA-560-02] c. Analyze how the policy may impact future funding sources. [HEA-560-04] d. Predict any necessary future modifications to the policy given regulatory trends. With regard to the policy and funding trends, what additional

considerations should be taken? [HEA-560-04]

Milestones Milestone One: Policy Proposal Perspective In Module Two, you will share with your peers the perspective you have selected for your final project, the written admission policy proposal. Throughout this course, this role or perspective will frame your responses for all tasks related to the policy proposal. As you consider the perspective you selected, address the prompt requirements in your initial post and as you extend the conversations with your peers. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Admission Policy Proposal In Module Four, you will research admission policies, then select and develop an admission policy. As you do so, consider the intended outcomes of the policy, and consider whether the policy impacts the mission and vision of the institution. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Stakeholder Analysis In Module Five, you will create a stakeholder map providing a visual representation of the internal and external stakeholders and narrative statements discussing these stakeholder perspectives in more detail. Additionally, you will consider the impact on internal stakeholders—those who work in areas of institutional operations—and develop an action plan for how you would work in concert with these stakeholders to enact your proposed policy. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Milestone Four: Admission Policy Impact In Module Seven, you will submit a policy impact report in which you outline the possible ramifications of your admissions policy on 1) the institution’s operations, 2) the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of culturally diverse college students, and 3) the institution’s mission and vision. Consider whether your policy will have an impact upon the institution’s mission and vision to work with culturally diverse communities and consider multiple definitions of cultural diversity as you frame your response. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Four Rubric. Final Submission: Policy Proposal In Module Nine, you will submit your written policy proposal. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Deliverables Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading

1 Policy Proposal Perspective Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

2 Admission Policy Proposal Four Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

3 Stakeholder Analysis Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

4 Admission Policy Impact Seven Graded separately; Milestone Four Rubric

Final Submission: Policy Proposal Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: The final project must include the new admissions policy in the introduction. Your policy proposal should be a well-developed paper, 17–20 pages in length (plus a cover sheet and reference page) and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one- inch margins. Include at least 15 references cited in APA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction: Proposed Policy

[HEA-560-02]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and the details illustrate how the policy addresses the intent that admissions become less selective while maintaining compliance

Describes proposed policy on attainment, retention, and completion

Describes proposed policy but description is cursory or lacks detail

Does not describe proposed policy on attainment, retention, and completion

6.5

Introduction: Intended Outcomes

[HEA-560-01]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and details and examples show how the impact will affect the future state of the institution

Describes the intended outcomes of the policy on student attainment, retention, and completion

Describes the intended outcomes of the policy on student attainment, retention, and completion but lacks specificity

Does not describe the intended outcomes of the policy on student attainment, retention, and completion

6.5

Introduction: Mission and Vision

[HEA-560-03]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides insight into the relationship between policy writing and the mission and vision of an institution

Articulates evidence of how elements of the mission and vision were considered when recommending policy

Articulates evidence of how elements of the mission and vision were considered when recommending policy but details are cursory and overgeneralized

Does not articulate evidence of how elements of the mission and vision were considered when recommending policy

6.5

Introduction: Mission and Vision

[HEA-560-03]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and identifies both positive and negative impacts to the culture

Justifies how the policy supports and aligns with the mission and vision of the institution using supporting evidence

Justifies how the policy supports and aligns with the mission and vision of the institution but lacks substantial evidence

Does not justify how the policy supports and aligns with the mission and vision of the institution

6.5

Introduction: Federal and State

Regulations

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides rationale that supports the inclusion of real world state

Describes how variables of state and federal regulations were

Describes how variables of state and federal regulations were

Does not describe how variables of state and federal regulations

6.5

[HEA-560-04] and federal regulation variables within the policy

considered and included in the development of the policy

included in the development of the policy but lacks accuracy

were included in the development of the policy

Introduction: Internal and External

Stakeholders [HEA-560-05]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and concludes how stakeholders can be involved constructively in the policy-making process and provides real world examples of best practices of stakeholder involvement

Recommends internal and external stakeholders to participate in the crafting of the policy and provides clear descriptions of their roles in the crafting of policy

Recommends internal and external stakeholders to participate in the crafting of the policy but descriptions of their roles in the crafting of policy lack clarity

Does not recommend additional internal and external stakeholders to participate in the crafting of policy

6.5

Development: Communicating Intent

[HEA-560-03]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides strategies of policy and mission development that address communication in the context of admissions and compliance with state and federal regulations

Explains how the policy communicates the intent that admissions become less selective while in compliance with higher education regulations, and supports explanation with evidence where appropriate

Explains how the policy communicates the intent that admissions become less selective while in compliance with higher education regulations but lacks well-supported evidence

Does not explain how the policy communicates the intent that admissions become less selective while in compliance with higher education regulations

6.5

Development: Action Plan

[HEA-560-05]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides insight into future decision making regarding policy using real-world rationale

Designs action plan that will result in the necessary response from internal and external stakeholders to the implementation of the policy

Designs action plan that will result in the necessary response from internal and external stakeholders to the implementation of the policy but lacks clarity

Does not design an action plan that will result in the necessary response from internal and external stakeholders

6.5

Development: Additional Resources

[HEA-560-05]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides logical justification for the acquisition of additional resources for and from internal and external stakeholders using real-world examples

Describes additional resources, for and from internal and external stakeholders, that the institution will need to provide based on the implementation of policy, providing justification

Describes additional resources for and from internal and external stakeholders but lacks justification

Does not describe additional resources for and from internal and external stakeholders

6.5

Impact: Institutional Operations

[HEA-560-01]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and projects future trending impact and strategy from an operational perspective regarding increasing enrollment, retention, and completion through implementation

Analyzes the impact of institutional operations from increasing enrollment, retention, and completion through implementation

Analyzes the impact of institutional operations from increasing enrollment, retention, and completion through implementation but details lack relevance

Does not analyze the impact of institutional operations from increasing enrollment, retention, and completion through implementation

6.5

Impact: How Policy Meets

Requirement [HEA-560-01]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and includes strategies to ensure the sustainability and continuous improvement of enrollment, retention, and completion

Evaluates how the policy will meet the requirement of increasing enrollment, retention, and completion

Evaluates how the policy will meet the requirement of increasing enrollment, retention, and completion but explanations lack detail

Does not evaluate how the policy will meet the requirement of increasing enrollment, retention, and completion

6.5

Conclusions: Future Impact on

Demographics [HEA-560-01]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and illustrates insight into the relationship between the policy impact on future demographics and the mission and vision of the institution using real-world examples

Describes how the policy may impact the future demographics of the institution

Describes how the policy may impact the future demographics of the institution but lacks logical reasoning

Does not describe how the policy may impact the future demographics of the institution

6.5

Conclusions: Potential to Alter the

Mission [HEA-560-02]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and predictions demonstrate keen insight into the policy’s potential to alter the institution

Predicts the policy’s potential to alter the mission of the institution

Predicts the policy’s potential to alter the mission of the institution but lacks logical reasoning and detail

Does not predict the policy’s potential to alter the mission of the institution

6.5

Conclusions: Future Funding Sources

[HEA-560-04]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and includes examples of real-world state and federal funding variables within policy

Analyzes how the policy may impact future funding sources

Analyzes how the policy may impact future funding sources but lacks rationale

Does not analyze how the policy may impact future funding sources

6.5

Conclusions: Regulatory Trends

[HEA-560-04]

Meets “Proficient” criteria and predicts future changes in funding sources that could impact policy

Predicts any necessary future modifications to the policy given regulatory trends

Predict any necessary future modifications to the policy given regulatory trends but lacks detail

Does not predict any necessary future modifications to the policy

6.5

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

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

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

2.5

Earned Total 100%