Community College Benchmarking: Assessment, Improvement and Accountability Michelle Taylor| Senior Research Analyst National Higher Education Benchmarking Institute

Steps to productive benchmarking.

Productive Benchmarking Simply put, benchmarking is comparing your college to other colleges  One-on-one  Group of peers  National data sets

Benchmarking: An ongoing, systematic process for measuring and comparing the work processes of one organization to those of another. (Kempner, 1993)

Benchmarking Steps Planning Identify what is to be benchmarked Identify peer institutions Analysis Collecting and benchmarking the data Determine performance gaps and set targets Action Develop action plans Implement specific actions and monitor progress

Identify What to Benchmark  Key Performance Indicators  Strategic Plan  Mission & Vision Statements  Values Statement Look at your college sources.

Benchmarking Steps Planning Identify what is to be benchmarked Identify peer institutions Analysis Collecting and benchmarking the data Determine performance gaps and set targets Action Develop action plans Implement specific actions and monitor progress

Can you spot the differences? Or the similarities?

Not having an identical twin is no excuse for not benchmarking.

Peer Selection Criteria  Do you have a list of peer colleges you use?  Do you want to just look at colleges in your state?  Do you want to look at SACS colleges?  Do you want to look at colleges that best “match” you?

How to Select Your Peer Comparison Group  Campus Environment  Institution Type  Institutional Control  Academic Calendar  Credit Enrollment  Minority Students  Percent State Revenue  Operating Budget  Faculty Unionized  Service Area Population  Unemployment Rate  Household Income  Service Area Percent Minority

Recommendations:  Choose peers based on your situation, needs and goals

Utilizing benchmarking for strategic planning & program improvement

Benchmarking Steps Planning Identify what is to be benchmarked Identify peer institutions Analysis Collecting and benchmarking the data Determine performance gaps and set targets Action Develop action plans Implement specific actions and monitor progress

Sources of Benchmarks  Four sources of national benchmarks provided by the Benchmarking Institute

Graduation Rates in Three Years Full-time, First-time

Graduation and Transfer Rate in Three Years Full-time, First-time

Cost and Productivity Project

Cost & Productivity Project  Provides presidents, chief academic officers, deans and institutional researchers with benchmarks at the discipline level  Instructional costs (salaries and benefits)  Faculty workload  Class size

Cost & Productivity Project  Provides participating institutions with the benchmarks to support  Staffing and faculty workload planning  Academic program planning  Program Review  Assessment  Accreditation

National Cost & Productivity Report Sample

Institutional Cost Report Sample

Benchmarks for Planning Cost Per Credit Hour

Benchmarks for Planning Full-time Part-time

Cost per Credit Hour Registered Nursing

Graduation and Transfer rate: 42% Peer group: 15 out of 30 Select Key Performance Indicator Find the gap Increase student success as measured by the graduation and transfer rate by 5% 12 Design improvement strategy 4 Benchmarks and Strategic Planning 75 th percentile is at 52% Set the goal 3 Find best practices Implement improvement strategy

Gap Analysis 52% Cohorts Fall-Fall Persistence Gap Example Institution Aspirational Benchmark

Benchmarking Steps Planning Identify what is to be benchmarked Identify peer institutions Analysis Collecting and benchmarking the data Determine performance gaps and set targets Action Develop action plans Implement specific actions and monitor progress Major College Processes

Benchmarking Steps Planning Identify what is to be benchmarked Identify peer institutions Analysis Collecting and benchmarking the data Determine performance gaps and set targets Action Develop action plans Implement specific actions and monitor progress

Learn More about Benchmarking and Best Practices JCCC.edu/Benchmark

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Michelle Taylor Senior Research Analyst | National Higher Education Benchmarking Institute Johnson County Community College|12345 College Blvd. | Overland Park, KS Phone: Ext. 3831|