[COPLAC-IR] NSSE COPLAC consortium

[Lashley, Brian (Institutional Research)]

Hi everyone,

Regarding the recent move to eliminate the additional COPLAC questions from NSSE, I just want to share what I see as some advantages & disadvantages.....I hope this will stimulate some discussion.

Advantages of Dropping the Additional Items

*  The new NSSE modules provide ways each school can address particular areas without having to force additional items on the whole group; dropping the 	COPLAC items would free up each institution to choose a module(s), whereas keeping the items would limit the number of modules they can add

*  Shortens the survey for any institution that feels the basic NSSE items are enough

*  Lack of vigorous response on this listserv suggests the items are not of vital importance


Disadvantages of Dropping the Additional Items

*  This decision is being made somewhat last-minute; personally I would find it easier to drop the items if the conversation had started by mid-August.

*  One of the schools suggesting no additional items will not be in a COPLAC NSSE consortium till 2018 (If I understand their plan correctly to do NSSE on 3-year cycle with 2015 being next); I think it would be good to have the decision driven by 2014 participants.....No hard feelings Kristina! :-))

*  Even if a school really only tracks one item, at least they will get that one item again this year and can start making plans for next year as far as 	modules & consortiums & new ways to get that item


So folks.....does any of this resonate with you?  If we continue to not have much discussion, I think that says the additional items are not very important and we should each just sign up for modules if we want to cover certain areas.  Your call!


Brian R. Lashley, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of IR
Eastern Connecticut State U
Willimantic, CT  06226
lashleyb at easternct.edu
860-465-5596