Leadership Exchange Magazine Features CENTSS Audit Tool

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, January 27, 2011 (Press-News.org) In the winter 2011 issue of Leadership Exchange Magazine (http://naspa.org/pubs/default.cfm), The Center for Transforming Student Services (CENTSS) audit tool was featured in the article "The Virtual World of Student Services: Evolving Practices for Engagement and Student Success," by Joellen Barnhart. The magazine is published by NASPA (http://naspa.org/), the foremost professional association for student affairs administrators, faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students, with over 11,000 members at 1,400 campuses, and representing 29 countries.

The article discusses that, with the increase of virtual learning programs, virtual services are being sought by parents, vendors, alumni, staff, faculty, and even legislators. These constituents require online support as part of campus outreach. Barnhart says, "As a parent of a University of Massachusetts student, I receive news alerts, newsletters, updates, and other information through a 24/7 electronic format aimed at keeping me informed and appropriately engaged with both the university and my child."

The CENTSS audit tool helps institutions by giving them the tools and training they need to develop and deliver the high-quality student services online their constituents are demanding. Effectively implemented student services are a critical component of student retention, engagement, and satisfaction.

Vicky Frank, President of Seward Inc. and CENTSS co-creator, is quoted in the article saying, "We no longer use the term best practices. Now we refer to our pioneering work as 'innovations.'" She adds, "There is no one way to implement an online student service because each institution is unique." In the article, Frank also explains that online services were once designed primarily for students enrolled in online courses. "As it turns out, campus students regularly use the virtual services. The online environment now provides an opportunity to deliver integrated students services, blurring the boundaries of departments."

Through CENTSS, institutions are able to blend the power of technology with the personal attention of traditional support services to serve these students.

About CENTSS
The Center for Transforming Student Services (CENTSS) provides educational institutions with the tools and training they need to develop and deliver high-quality student services online. Effectively implemented student services are a critical component of student retention, engagement, and satisfaction. Through CENTSS, institutions are able to blend the power of technology with the personal attention of traditional support services. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and Seward, Inc., worked with the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET, formerly the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunication) to develop the CENTSS audit tool. To date, CENTSS has worked with more than 200 institutions to assess their online student services practices and policies. For more information about the CENTSS audit, go to http://www.centss.org.