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Section IV: Programs
SACS Comprehensive Standard for Student Affairs and Services 

IV-31.  The institution has a sufficient number of qualified personnel with appropriate career preparation to ensure the quality and integrity of its student affairs programs.

JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

Yes, East Tennessee State University is able to provide a portfolio of evidence supporting compliance.

STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

At East Tennessee State University, student affairs personnel are employed by the ETSU Division of Student Affairs, offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Registrar, and the ETSU James H. Quillen College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs.  These offices have established criteria on the educational preparation, knowledge, abilities, and work experiences required for professional staff, which are specified in job descriptions for each position (ETSU Office of Human Resources, Job Descriptions).  All staff are employed using ETSU policies and guidelines (ETSU Personnel Policies and Procedures), which are in compliance with policies of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR Manual, General Personnel Policies).  New job descriptions or changes to existing descriptions are reviewed by the staff of the ETSU Office of Human Resourcesprior to advertisement (ETSU Personnel Policies and Procedures, New/Vacant Positions).  Audits of particular positions occur periodically to keep professional positions current with job market benchmarks (ETSU Personnel Policies and Procedures, Position Audits/Reclassifications).  Every effort is made to recruit highly qualified professionals through appropriate university procedures (ETSU Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, Search Committee Procedures). 

ETSU Division of Student Affairs 

All professional staff members in the division of student affairs hold graduate degrees in their disciplines or possess an appropriate combination of education and experience.  These credential requirements meet those specified by the Council For the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (The Book of Professional Standards For Higher Education).  The division of student affairs enhances staffing by utilizing skilled graduate assistants for specific roles (ETSU Division of Student Affairs, Graduate Assistant Positions).  Graduate assistants participate in an annual orientation program and receive training appropriate for their respective positions.  Professional development for staff members through continuing education is encouraged.  Training to improve leadership, management abilities, and specialized computer and technology skills is offered at no cost by the university and division.  Travel to national professional meetings, journal subscriptions, and staff retreats are budgeted annually by each department within the division.

National standards that specify the number of professionals necessary to staff various student affairs service units do not exist.  However, ETSU does follow the guiding principles of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (The Book of Professional Standards For Higher Education) relative to staff numbers and qualifications.  Professional staff members are adequate in number at ETSU to deliver quality services in accordance with stated unit goals and to meet the needs of particular student constituencies. 

The ETSU Division of Student Affairs fully staffs the traditional departments found in most student affairs divisions at comprehensive regional universities.  However, in addition to these traditional departments, ETSU has several unique departments staffed by qualified individuals who provide innovative services to student populations with special needs or interests.  The ETSU Center for Adult Programs and Services offers a full range of services to adult, commuting, and transfer students.  The ETSU Center for Student Life and Leadership sponsors campus-wide activities, student leadership development opportunities, and houses one of the most comprehensive service-learning and volunteer programs found in the region (UCLA Higher Education Research Institute).  Volunteer programs at ETSU have received two Points of Light Foundation Awards.  Additional personnel for this center will be needed in the future to ensure sound management of our expanding service-learning program.  The ETSU Department of Campus Recreation has hired additional staff to manage the recently completed construction of the Basler Challenge Course (climbing wall, alpine tower, and various high and low element ropes apparatus).  Additional campus recreation staff members also have been hired for the new ETSU Center for Physical Activities, currently under construction.

ETSU Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Registrar

The ETSU Office of Admissions is staffed with ten professional employees, eight full-time support employees, and one full-time temporary employee.  In addition, four graduate assistants and seventeen to eighteen undergraduate student workers provide support to the office each year.  All employees must meet appropriate career and educational preparations as defined by approved position qualifications and specified in job descriptions (ETSU Office of Human Resources, Job Descriptions).  Periodic training is provided to employees to maintain knowledge and efficiency with changing technologies.

The ETSU Office of Financial Aid has a reasonable number of positions to manage the Title IV federal financial aid programs, in addition to internal and external scholarship programs.  The staff is divided between the processing and client services areas, and is composed of ten professional positions, seven clerical positions, four graduate assistants, and approximately 20 undergraduate student workers.  A national standard for numbers of staff is not available for financial aid offices, although the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators does provide a guideline based on various characteristics of workload (e.g., number of students, applications, and dollars awarded).  Currently, the ETSU Office of Financial Aid staff numbers are slightly below this guideline.  Federal guidelines on staffing are based on assessment of administrative capabilities.  Administrative capability in the ETSU Office of Financial Aid is monitored on the basis of the appropriate placement of personnel, the distribution of assigned tasks, and the ability to accomplish the goals and objectives of the office in a reasonable time period for all client groups (e.g., students, parents, scholarship agencies).  On these bases, assessment of administrative capability of the ETSU Office of Financial Aid is sufficient.  Recent performance indicators and improvements provided by this office corroborate that staffing numbers are sufficient (SACS Standard VI-6).  Personnel possess education appropriate to the level of position, with some personnel possessing Master's degrees.  Continuing education necessary to ensure that staff are efficient in job skills and current with changing federal and state regulations are provided, and all staff have participated in a variety of technical training programs. 

The ETSU Office of the Registrar has four full-time administrative employees and twelve full-time support staff employees.  In addition, the office is assisted by a minimum of three part-time temporary employees and 15 students participating in various student work programs.  All staff employees meet the educational and career preparations appropriate to each position (ETSU Office of Human Resources, Job Descriptions).  Administrative employees participate in professional associations for university registrars (Tennessee, Southern, and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers).  On-going training in general technology and supervisory skills are provided, as well as specialized training to keep personnel updated on changes in state-mandated procedures and shared systems (e.g., Tennessee Student Information System University annual conference).  Recent student surveys (1997 Enrolled Student Survey; 1999 Enrolled Student Survey) indicate that registration and other student services provided by the office are adequate, with 85% of students (1999 survey included 1245 students) responding that services are fair, good, or excellent. 

ETSU James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Office of Student Affairs 

Student affairs functions in the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine are under the direction of an associate dean.  The office is composed of sections focused on admissions and records, student support services, and financial aid (ETSU Quillen College of Medicine, Office of Student Affairs).  All sections are adequately staffed and equipped to provide medical students with a wide range of services designed to ensure their success.  Each of the three sections is under the direction of a professional who holds a graduate degree in their discipline and a minimum of eight years successful experience in their area (ETSU Administrative Listing).  Personnel in admissions/records and student support services work closely to provide additional programs and services to high school and undergraduate students in the area and across the state.  The student affairs office and its associated programs have consistently met and surpassed the accreditation standards set by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (Accreditation Records). 

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