discussion 5

HEA 540 Module Five Peer Review Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: In the Module Four short paper assignment, you shared your recommendations for improving the academic program based on evaluation data and driven by standards from accreditation and regulation agencies. Now it is time to calculate the costs of those recommendations Prompt: There is an old adage that says there is no such thing as a free lunch. In this case, perhaps, there is no such thing as a cost-free recommendation. In this discussion, you will share your estimated budget to implement the recommendations you made. This assignment will consist of an initial post and at least two response posts, as in a regular discussion. Complete your initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone. Complete the minimum of two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

 Recommendations: For the convenience of your reader, restate your recommendations in the discussion.

 Budget Completion: Provide estimates for each of the categories in the Budget Template. You may add categories if you think there are other costs associated with your academic program, though you must address at least the categories provided.

 Justification: Explain your cost inputs using the comment feature of Microsoft Excel, footnotes, or some other system to connect the numbers and the narrative. For example, what numbers went into your calculations? How do you know these numbers are accurate?

 Realistic Estimates: Ensure that the cost inputs are realistic and relevant to the field of higher education; otherwise, the estimates you provide will lack accuracy.

 Engagement: Peer feedback is very important for this budget. Review the budgets and explanations of at least two of your peers and look for opportunities to both praise the existing work as well as suggest opportunities for improvement, such as costs that might be added, deleted, revised, or clarified.

Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Attach your spreadsheet to your post or link to your spreadsheet within the text of your post (e.g., if you use Google Sheets). Be sure that your justification is shared as part of, or in addition to, the budget document. Respond to your peers as you usua lly do within a discussion.

Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (80%) Not Evident (0%) Value Recommendations Res tates recommendati ons Does not res tate recommendati ons 5 Budget Completion Provi des es ti ma tes for each of the

categori es i n the budget templ ate Provi des es ti mates for the categori es i n the budget templ ate, but categori es are

i ncompl ete or i naccurate

Does not provi de es ti mates for the categori es i n the budget templ ate

15

Justification Expl ai ns i n detai l the cos t i nputs that were us ed to cal cul ate each category i n the budget templ ate

Expl ai ns the cos t i nputs that were us ed to cal cul ate categori es i n the budget templ ate, but expl anati on l acks detai l or i s i ncompl ete

Does not expl ai n the cos t i nputs that were us ed to cal cul ate each category i n the budget templ ate

30

Realistic Estimates

Us es real i s tic cos t es ti mates that are appropri ate to the fi el d of hi gher educati on

Us es cos t es ti mates , but es ti mates are not real i s ti c and/or are i nappropriate to the

fi el d of hi gher educati on

Does not us e cos t es ti mates 20

Engagement Provi des comprehens i ve and rel evant res pons e pos ts wi th expl anati on and detai l

Provi des s omewhat rel evant res pons e pos ts

wi th s ome expl anati on and detai l Provi des res pons e pos ts that are generi c

wi th l i ttl e expl anati on or detai l 20

Articulation of Response

Submi s s i on has no major errors rel ated to des i gn, ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l ing, s yntax,

or organi zati on

Submi s s i on has major errors rel ated to des i gn, ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l ing, s yntax,

or organi zati on that negati vel y i mpact readabi l ity and arti culation of mai n i deas

Submi s s i on has criti cal errors rel ated to des i gn, ci tati ons , grammar, s pel l ing, s yntax,

or organi zati on that prevent unders tandi ng of i deas

10

Total 100%