TRIO PROGRAMS’ CAS STANDARDS
An Overview
Lucy Jones
Rich Mountain Community College
1100 College Drive
Mena, AR 71953
ljones@rmcc.edu
What is CAS?
 Council for the Advancement of Standards in
Higher Education Quality Programs and Services
for Students (CAS)
 Founded in 1979
 Consortium of 35 higher education associations
 25 functional area standards and guidelines
designed to guide the quality of practice
(includes TRIO)
 Many colleges and universities use functional
standards (advising, counseling, student unions,
learning centers housing, admission)
 Credibility of established organization
CAS Standards and Guidelines
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Mission
Program
Leadership
Organization and
Management
Human Resources
Financial Resources
Facilities, Technology
& Equipment
Legal Responsibilities
9. Equal Opportunity
Access and
Affirmative Action
10. Campus and
Community Relations
11. Diversity
12. Ethics
13. Assessment and
Evaluation
Why TRIO Standards?
Program Improvement:
1. Opportunities to improve services
and outcomes for students
2. Opportunities to improve practice
Professional Development: tool to
promote staff discussion & responsibility
for evaluation and project outcomes
New Projects: foundation for start up
Why TRIO Standards?
Evaluation and Accountability: formative
and summative
1. Improve program practice
2. Benchmarks for self-assessment
Credibility at host institution
Opportunities for state and regional TRIO
associations to take leadership role in
promoting standards
Usages of CAS TRIO Standards &
Self Assessment Guides (SAGs)
In your institution or agency
 As a means to support professional staff
development
 As a formative and summative evaluation tool;
promote project self-assessment & development
The outcome can
 Provide legitimacy and accountability
 Validate accreditation, assessment
 Enhance programs and services that benefit the
students’ educational and personal development
Self-Assessment Process
1. Establish the selfstudy team
2. Understand the
standards and
guidelines
3. Compile and review
the documentary
evidence
4.
5.
Judge performance
Implement the
assessment and set
priorities for project
improvement