Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 47
the department can use longitudinal
and other comparative data to monitor improvements over time as well
as improvements across groups. Each
year, those insights reinforce changes
and inform additional improvement
efforts. Thus, benchmarking drives a
cycle of learning and improvement.
In addition, the insights can be
used to tell the story of a department
and provide evidence of impact. Curtis
Brickhouse, associate director of residence life at Buffalo State SUNY, highlights how benchmarking data helped
to show the benefits of facilities-related
initiatives. Improvements to Internet
connections, package delivery processes, food options, and dining hall hours
were followed by increases in satisfaction in their resident assessment data.
In this case, their benchmarking data
told a success story of the benefits of
investing in facilities-related improvements.
Fundamentally, benchmarking
helps a housing department understand their performance, motivate
the people in the department, drive
improvements, and craft an evidencebased story about their work. Given
that there are four types of benchmarking, if one type does not work for a
department, another one likely will.
Benchmarking Types
Benchmarking efforts can be grouped
into four categories: standards, external, internal, and longitudinal. Each
group has applications for housing
and residence life, and they can be
used individually or together, depending on the situation and needs of the
department.
The concept behind standards
benchmarking is similar to what the
dictionary definition describes. It
involves using a standard as a comparison for results. For example, in
manufacturing industries, there often
is a minimum or desirable perfor-
Types of Benchmarking
Standards
Standards benchmarking makes comparisons to a
minimum threshold or standard. Standards-based
benchmarking can be used when a goal is set and
performance is measured against the goal.
External
External benchmarking refers to using a comparison
group external to the institution. The most common
comparison group is made of peers. External comparisons can be used to answer specific questions
and address strategic goals.
Internal
Internal benchmarking uses internal groups or
departments as comparisons. These internal comparisons can be particularly valuable for spotting best
practices and are valuable sources of motivation.
Longitudinal
Longitudinal benchmarking makes comparisons
through time. This benchmarking type is particularly
useful as part of continuous improvement efforts and
for monitoring key strategic outcomes.
SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER 2018
47
Talking Stick - September/October 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - September/October 2018
Talking Stick - September/October 2018
Vision
Just In
Calendar
Your ACUHO-I
Transitions
Res Life
Facilities
Special Focus
Is the Price Right?
Making Your Mark
Conversations
First Takes
Around Student Affairs
New Members
Snapshot
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Intro
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Talking Stick - September/October 2018
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Cover2
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 1
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 2
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 3
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 4
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 5
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 6
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 7
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Vision
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 9
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Just In
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 11
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 12
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 13
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 14
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 15
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 16
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 17
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Calendar
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 19
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Your ACUHO-I
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 21
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 22
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Transitions
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Res Life
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 25
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 26
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 27
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Facilities
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 29
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 30
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 31
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Special Focus
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 33
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 34
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 35
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Is the Price Right?
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 37
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 38
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 39
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 40
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 41
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 42
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 43
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Making Your Mark
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 45
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 46
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 47
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 48
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 49
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 50
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 51
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Conversations
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 53
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 54
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 55
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - First Takes
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Around Student Affairs
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - 58
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - New Members
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Snapshot
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Cover3
Talking Stick - September/October 2018 - Cover4
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