We all get a feeling of satisfaction from meeting a goal we have set for ourselves and, when it comes down to it, this looks good on paper. Maybe that paper is your C.V., maybe it is the series of ridiculous screens of questions that accompany most higher education job applications these days, maybe that paper is an accreditation narrative. I refer to paper as a metaphor, as there is a lot less paper involved in job applications and accreditation these days.
But let’s step back from that a minute and talk about the nature of those goals. I have done some spectacular things in my life and was able to bask in those positive experiences. I have also failed in an equally spectacular fashion. Often. When I think back, it is the failures that created the most effective learning opportunities. When the goal is high, and we fail to achieve it, we must focus our attention on what we can learn from the experience.
The same goes for academic assessment. If you are a SACSCOC institution, I’m talking about standards 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, and 8.2.a-c. Goals are important for these standards and are explicitly required for some and the need for them is quietly implied in others. Modest goals are easily achieved and make us look good, but you have to keep in mind the spirit behind these standards. This is about providing quality service to students. A goal set low that is easily achieved runs counter to this idea of striving to provide better service. You have heard it called “continuous improvement”.
Big Audacious Goals
This brings us back to the title of this post. Setting a high goal, collecting data regarding the achievement of that goal, failing to reach it, and reflecting on the results will be more transformative than achieving an easy goal. Big. Audacious. Goals. Set them high, fail to achieve them, and learn from the process. Accreditors don’t care that you meet all of your goals. Accreditors care that you set goals, assess attainment of goals, learn from the process and make changes seeking improvement when you fall short.