Notes from AQIP on

Category 3, Understanding Students' and Other Stakeholders' Needs

AQIP has reviewed the Notes presented here to make sure they conform to AQIP and HLC policies, and to ensure they present sensible strategies and useful practices for Systems Portfolios. Every organization preparing a Systems Portfolio is not obligated to follow the advice presented here, but organizations can be confident that heeding this advice will not mislead them. Notes pages are locked, and only AQIP can change them.

View or contribute to Support for Category 3

Category 3, Understanding Students’ and Other Stakeholders’ Needs

Systems, Activities, and Processes it might include

• Understanding Students’ and Other Stakeholders’ Needs examines your institution's processes and systems related to:
• Identifying who your key student and stakeholder groups are
• Clarifying the requirements of your key student and stakeholder groups
• Building relationships with your key students and stakeholders
• Collecting, analyzing, and resolving complaints
• Determining satisfaction of students and stakeholders

Students are any educational institution’s primary stakeholders, but your institution may see its mission as serving other groups as well. For purposes of Category 3, other stakeholders refers to those groups that have a major stake in your institution’s success, such as parents, alumni, board members, local and regional communities, employers, and legislators. Internal employee groups (e.g., faculty and staff) are addressed in Category 4, Valuing People.

Changing needs might address, for example, needs that will impact enrollment in programs and courses, services provided, and facilities required, as appropriate.

Address current and prospective students and stakeholders, as appropriate.

Changing needs might address, for example, needs of the communities and region that you serve and needs that will impact students upon entry into internship and service opportunities, the job market, and further educational opportunities, as appropriate.

How you anticipate the future needs of your student and other stakeholder groups and include them in your planning process should be addressed in Category 8, Planning Continuous Improvement.

Results for student satisfaction  might include satisfaction with instructional and supporting institutional operations, as driven by the requirements identified. Results might include complaint information as well. Results might address, for example, attrition and retention, transfer, loyalty, and overall value ratings.

Results regarding serving the communities and region that you serve should be addressed in Category 2, Accomplishing Other Distinctive Objectives.

For Results (R) items, address historical trends and patterns, as appropriate.