Educational Leadership (M.A.) - Standards

Domain 1:  Organization and Leadership

Standard 1:  Vision High performing leaders have a personal vision for their institution and the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to develop, articulate, and implement a shared vision that is supported by the governing body and the community. The leader:

1. Understands and clearly communicates the shared vision of the institution;
2. Uses critical thinking and problem solving techniques  to define problems and identify solutions;
3. Engages in data analysis for instructional planning and improvement;
4. Utilizes, directs, and supports the administrative structures in place for strategic planning and institutional  advancement;
5. Provides evidence of delegation and trust in subordinate leaders; and
6. Plans for succession management in key positions.

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Standard 2:  Decision Making Strategies High performing leaders plan effectively, use critical thinking and problem solving techniques, and collect and analyze data for continuous institutional improvement. The leader:

1. Generates a focus on student and professional learning in the institution that is clearly linked to the strategic  plan;
2. Evaluates, monitors, and provides timely feedback to institutional constituencies on the effectiveness of the institution in achieving goals;
3. Evaluates decisions for effectiveness, equity, intended and actual outcome; implements follow-up actions; and revises as needed; and
4. Uses critical thinking and problem solving techniques to define problems and identify solutions.

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Standard 3: Financial Resources and Facilities  Institutional programs and services must demonstrate efficient use and responsible stewardship of fiscal resources and facilities consistent with institutional protocols.

1. Assures that programs and services have adequate, accessible, and suitably located facilities and equipment to support the mission and goals of the institution;
2. Assures that programs and services have adequate fiscal resources to achieve goals of the institution;
3. Utilizes an effective, integrative, and broad based planning process for institutional budgeting;
4. Engages in continuous comprehensive analysis to track revenues, expenditures, unmet needs of a given unit, and the impact on students and the institution as a whole;
5. Maximizes budget flexibility to accommodate fluctuations in enrollment, revenues, expenditures, and contingencies;
6. Anticipate changes in economic, political, and regulatory environment that impacts institutional budgets; and
7. Adheres to rules and regulations as they pertain to various funding sources for the institution such as financial aid, grants and contracts, and tuition and fees.  

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook

Domain 2: Institutional and External Relations

Standard 4: Community and Stakeholder Partnerships   High performing leaders collaborate with business and community members, respond to diverse community interests and needs, and work effectively within the larger organization to mobilize community resources.

1. Actively listens to and learns from students, staff, parents, and community stakeholders;
2. Maintains high visibility in the community and regularly engages stakeholders in the work and plans of the institution;
3. Creates opportunities within the institution to engage students, faculty, and community stakeholders in constructive conversations about important institutional issues and initiatives;
4. Provides coordinated service activities that benefit community stakeholders and incorporates service learning in educational programs; and
5. Engages in fund raising that will benefit the institution.

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Standard 5: Human Resource Development  High performing leaders recruit, select, nurture and, where appropriate, retain effective personnel, develop mentor and partnership programs, and design and implement comprehensive professional growth plans for all staff – paid and volunteer. The leader:

1. Employs an administration and faculty with the instructional and administrative proficiencies needed for the institution;
2. Identifies and cultivates potential and emerging leaders;   
3. Promotes teacher-leadership functions focused on instructional proficiency and student learning;
4. Ensures that staff members are knowledgeable about and trained in emergency procedures, crisis response,and prevention efforts;
5. Develops sustainable and supportive relationships between school leaders, parents, community, higher education and business leaders;
6. Implements professional learning that enables faculty to deliver culturally relevant and differentiated instruction; 
7. Provides resources and time and engages faculty in effective individual and collaborative professional learning that will benefit instruction throughout the school year

For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Standard 6: Technology  High performing leaders plan and implement the integration of technological and electronic tools in teaching, learning, management, research, and communication responsibilities. The leader:

1. Assures that the institution has adequate technology to support the achievement of mission and goals;
2. Explores the use of technology to enhance delivery of programs and services;
3. Maintains policies and procedures that address the security, confidentiality, and back-up of data, as well as compliance with privacy laws;
4. Develops plans for replacing and updating existing hardware and software as well as plans for integrating new technically-based or supported programs, including systems developed internally by the institution, systems available through professional associations, or private vendor-based systems; and
5. Utilizes appropriate technologies for communication and collaboration.

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Domain 3: Professional and Ethical Leadership

Standard 7: Ethical Leadership High Performing leaders act with professionalism, integrity, fairness, and honesty in an ethical manner. The leader:

1. Organizes time, tasks and projects effectively with clear objectives and coherent plans;
2. Establishes appropriate deadlines for him/herself and the entire organization;
3. Manages schedules, delegates, and allocates resources to promote collegial efforts in institutional
4. Improvement and faculty development
5. Is fiscally responsible and maximizes the impact of fiscal resources on institutional priorities;
6. Adheres to the Code of Ethics established by the institution;
7. Demonstrates a commitment to the success of all students, identifying barriers and their impact on the well-being of the institution and  community at large;
8. Demonstrates willingness to admit error and learn from it; and
9. Demonstrates explicit improvement in specific performance areas based on previous evaluations and formative feedback.

For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Standard 8: Diversity  High Performing leaders understand, respond to, and influence the personal, political, social, economic, legal, and cultural relationships in the classroom, institution, and community at large. The leader:

1. Creates and maintains an educational and work environment that is welcoming, accessible, and inclusive to persons of diverse backgrounds;
2. Ensures an environment that is equitable, non-discriminatory, and free from harassment;
3. Recognizes and uses diversity as an asset in the development and implementation of procedures and practices that motivate all students and improve student learning;
4. Advocates for greater sensitivity to multi-cultural and social justice concerns by the institution and its personnel;
5. Modifies or removes policies, practices, facilities, structures, systems, and technologies that limit access, discriminate, or produce inequities; and
6. Fosters communication that deepens understanding of identity, culture, self-expression, and heritage.

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Domain 4: Student Success

Standard 9: Learning, Accountability and Assessment     High performing leaders promote a positive learning culture, provide an effective instructional program, monitor the success of all students in the learning environment, and align the curriculum, instruction and assessment processes to promote effective student performance. The leader:

1. Promotes institutional programs composed of core knowledge and content that bridges practice to theory;
2. Enables faculty and staff to work as a system focused on student learning;
3. Generates high expectations for learning growth by all students;
4. Maintains a safe, respectful and inclusive student-centered learning environment that is focused on equitable opportunities for learning and building a foundation for a fulfilling life in a democratic society and global economy;
5. Ensures student learning results are evidenced by the student performance and growth on assessments; faculty and administrative assessment of the curriculum; and other indicators of student success adopted by the applicable governing board(s), state, national, and international assessments;
6. Uses assessments that include direct and indirect evaluation and use of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, as appropriate, to determine whether and to what degree the stated mission, goals, and intended outcomes are being met as effectively and efficiently as possible; and
7. Provides recurring monitoring and feedback on the quality of the learning environment.

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook 

Standard 10: Student Personnel Services     High performing leaders ensure an efficient, coordinated and effective environment for students both in and out of the classroom that focuses on student success and satisfaction. The leader:

1. Structures and organizes a division of student affairs that is consistent with the overall mission and guiding principles of the institution;
2. Promotes collaboration among senior leadership in academic affairs, student affairs, administrative services, and advancement to enhance communication and solve problems;
3. Utilizes a variety of student personnel services that include, but are not limited to: admissions, academic advising, orientation, recreation services, multicultural student services, housing/residential life, student health, adaptive/disability services, leadership opportunities, and service learning programs;
4. Initiates and supports continuous improvement processes focused on the students’ opportunities for success and well-being; and
5. Promotes a campus climate that is welcoming, supportive, and supports student engagement. 

 For each standard write an essay illustrating your mastery of the standard and attach at least two artifacts representative of the standard. Include the minimum required information for each essay that is listed in thePortfolio Guide in the online Student Handbook