LETTER FROM THE president In today’s digital age we have access to an abundance of information right at our fingertips. Likewise, we can use technology to gather feedback and assess learning far more easily and quickly than past generations (does anyone even carry a #2 pencil anymore?). On one hand, that can mean we are perfectly primed for data-informed decision-making. And yet, it can also lead to drowning in a sea of disparate data points we are challenged to make meaning of. One thing is certain, though: as a profession, we must improve on telling our story and advocating for ourselves and our students in a data-supported manner. In October, I traveled to the NASPA FSL Summit in Houston, Texas. The summit convened umbrella group leaders, headquarters executives, senior student affairs officers, and senior fraternity/sorority advisors to discuss challenges that plague this industry: health and safety, communication, new member processes, the disciplinary process, FSL staffing, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. While not a topic we had time to discuss, “data and metrics for FSL organizational success” was a top 10 issue and it was evident we couldn’t talk about solutions to any of the six hot topics without discussing data and metrics. Similarly, a recent AFA virtual program How to Successfully Advocate for Resources included guidance on how to partner with institutional resource professionals to boost advocacy efforts on campus. Telling our story — as an industry and profession — is much more compelling when supported by research. Additionally, we must continue to move away from common practice to best practice and cannot define “best” without assessment outcomes to demonstrate efficacy. Whether discussing a prevention framework or staffing model, we must take time to gather evidence of need, impact, and return on investment. An ongoing evaluation of key performance indicators (KPIs) enables us to measure community/organization success and wellness longitudinally. Those measures may be membership statistics, member engagement, and/ or financial health. The key to getting started is making use of resources that already exist such as institutional data, student success software, and learning management systems to cull data and build a framework. As our industry continues to grapple with challenging issues during a time when resources are becoming scarce, it is imperative our membership becomes increasingly data savvy. I hope this edition of Perspectives offers insights and inspiration on how to collect, analyze, and apply data.
Wendi Kinney President 03 PERSPECTIVES Issue #4
