Assignments Overview

The culminating product for LEAD 682 and LEAD 666 is a Program Proposal. The proposal focuses on discerning a problem pertinent to your ROTC program, developing an intervention, and assessing the efficacy of your intervention. You will create the proposal as a multi-step process via preceding assignments, and will implement the intervention upon your return to campus as a line of effort in your MEC clinical coursework. Each of the assignments necessary for completing the plan are described below.

Assignment 1: Institutional Profile

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 1, 3

The purposes of this assignment are to become familiar with the methods and tools of classifying and describing institutions, and to apply them to develop a better understanding of the institution to which you are assigned. The institution you profile should be the institution at which you would work most and have the most impact. If you are working largely at a satellite campus, it is appropriate for you to profile that campus.

Create a 1-page single-spaced document that provides a profile of your institution. Use tables, figures, graphs, charts, images, and/or maps sparingly to convey pertinent information about your institution. Identify, understand, and communicate aspects of your institution that are useful and relevant to your role as cadre and to the success of your ROTC program. Include as many of the following as possible:

What is its Carnegie Classification?
What are the enrollments?
Is it private or public?
It is a special-mission institution? If so, what type?
What are the student demographics; how would you describe the student profile?
How selective is the institution?
What is the sticker price of attending the institution?
What else might you share about history, geography, or other aspects of the institution? Some information might not be readily available, but most details you need will be on the institution’s website or elsewhere on the web. Keep a practical focus for an administrative audience. Imagine, for example, that your PMS or Brigade Commander has asked you to complete this task so that your unit may better understand the operational environment and better engage with its stakeholders (e.g., students, student support professionals, other faculty members, administrative staff, key leadership).

Assignment 2: Environmental Scan

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 1, 3, 4

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct an environmental scan of your program (identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Present your findings in 2-3 double- spaced pages. Assume an administrative audience. Be thorough and demonstrate your expertise, but brevity is encouraged; convey complex information efficiently and effectively. This may include tables and figures. For example, consider presenting information from a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis in a matrix, or sharing a figure that depicts your analysis as a supporting graphic that accompanies your written documentation of your environmental scan.

Your written environmental scan might address, but is not limited to, questions such as:

Who does the program serve?
What are the major aspects of your program’s mission?
Are there features of the program (e.g., history, location) that are unique and noteworthy?
What is the personnel structure?
What are the sources of funding for operations (distinct from student scholarships)?
What are the strengths (internal) of the program?
What are the weaknesses (internal) of the program?
What are the threats (external) to the program?
What are the opportunities (external) for the program?
Based on your environmental scan, what should the program prioritize?

Assignment 3: Problem Statement

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 1, 4

The purpose of this assignment is to identify a problem in your ROTC program or campus and develop a succinct, coherent problem statement in 1 double-spaced paragraph. A problem statement is an issue that needs to be understood, then solved. Note that the purpose of this assignment is simply to identify the problem, not its solution. The problem should be narrow in scope, pertaining directly to your role and within your power to address.

Problem statements should be simply and clearly written. Often, a problem statement includes a compelling need (e.g., without collaborating with Admissions, ROTC programs lose opportunities to recruit on behalf of both the Army and the institution). It should be specific (e.g., ROTC Cadre do not collaborate with the Admissions Office in recruitment), rather than general (e.g., universities operate in silos). You may wish to take notes about potential solutions but they should not be included in this assignment.

Assignment 4: Theoretical Analysis of Problem

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 2,3

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze your problem statement through an organizational theory of your choice in 3-4 double-spaced pages. You have already written the problem statement; summarize it in one sentence within this paper. This is as an exercise in applying theory to the understanding of, and practice in, postsecondary education. The use of theories allows for consideration of a problem in different ways. Be sure to draw from relevant course readings and other literature, and to properly cite your sources in your work.

For example, if the problem is a lack of communication between ROTC and Admissions, one might use cultural and political organizational theories. From a political theory framework, one might say that the two areas are competing for resources and power and therefore intentionally do not communicate in the hopes that information asymmetry will provide a competitive advantage. From a cultural theory framework, one might argue that ROTC programs may have a different style of communicating than their colleagues in Admissions. If your problem relates the attrition of Cadets as they progress toward contracting, you might use Tinto’s theory of student departure to focus your attention on issues of social and academic engagement.

Assignment 5a: Executive Summary (LEAD 682 HAT)

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 2,3

NOTE: Assignment 5a is the creation of your executive summary; in Assignment 5b, you will present your executive summary to your peers.

The purpose of this assignment is to develop brevity and efficiency in communicating information as you continue to focus on data-driven decision-making. Create a one-page executive summary. Your executive summary should communicate knowledge gained from the preceding assignments and be tailored to a specific audience of your choosing (e.g., PMS, dean, provost).

Summarize pertinent aspects of Assignments 1-4. Provide critical information about your institution and ROTC program, the problem statement, the theoretical analysis of the problem, the program designed to address the problem, and your preliminary ideas for your assessment plan.

Think about data-driven decision-making as a major organizing concept for this assignment. Assume your audience is not familiar with your ROTC program, your institution, or any theories or sources of evidence you incorporate. This is an opportunity to obtain feedback as you prepare to submit Assignment 6.

Traditional executive summaries are concisely written texts that utilize bullet points, blocks of information, tables, and graphical presentations of data. Multi-modal or infographic (e.g., Canva) executive summaries are becoming increasingly popular. Speak with your instructor about their recommended or preferred style for the executive summary assignment. Be creative and compelling while also being concise, professional, and thorough. Remember to add your name and contact information in case the reader would like additional information.

See Handout: Writing an Executive Summary for more information.

Assignment 5b: Presentation and Peer Feedback

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 2,3

The purposes of this assignment are to: 1) contribute to your peers’ learning and development by sharing expertise, 2) practice presenting your concept to stakeholders, and 3) obtain feedback about your program proposal and assessment plan as you prepare to implement the next phase of the program through your clinical coursework.

In no more than 10 minutes, present your executive summary through an informational and interactive presentation to your peers. Use your executive summary to guide the audience through your institution and ROTC program, problem statement, theoretical analysis of the problem, the program designed to address the problem, and your assessment plan. Demonstrate what you have learned, why it matters, what you plan to do about it, and where you will go from here (i.e., What? So What? Now What?).

Assignment 6: Program Proposal (LEAD 666 HAT)

Partially Fulfills Course Learning Objectives 2,3

The purpose of this assignment is to create a program proposal in which you describe the program or intervention you will implement in response to the problem you have identified and the knowledge you have gained through prior course assignments. This includes your plan for assessing the program.

The structure of the proposal is a 4-5 page single-spaced administrative memo addressed to a decision-maker who has the authority to help you implement your program. Note that an administrative memo is stylistically different from an Army memorandum for record. Be brief and clear in your language, avoid passive voice, and prepare an effective argument.

See Handout: Program Proposal template & guidelines for more information.

LEAD 682 HAT Rubric: Executive Summary (Assignment 5a)

Criteria	Insufficient Evidence (0)	Developing (1)	Target (2)	Exemplary (3)
Organization and Structure Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	Thesis is confused or lack of thesis. Paper is not focused. No or little attention to audience, tone, and purpose. Organization confused or illogical.	Intelligible thesis statement that states the main purpose and scope of the paper. Paper is somewhat focused on a single topic. The paper is presented in somewhat logical sequence and the audience has relatively little difficultly following.	Strong thesis statement that states the main purpose and scope of the paper. Paper is highly focused on a single topic. The paper is carefully organized and flows logically throughout. Clear understanding of audience, tone, and purpose.
Foundational Content Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	It is not clear how the chosen organizational theories relate to the administrative problem. The chosen administrative problem is poorly described.	Relevant organizational theories are adequately applied to the administrative problem. The chosen administrative problem is described.	Relevant organizational theories are applied to the administrative problem. The chosen administrative problem is succinctly and clearly described.
Critical Analysis Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	The chosen organizational theories are poorly applied to trying to understand the selected administrative problem. Theory analysis lacks clarity and is underdeveloped.	Uses chosen organizational theories to understand the selected administrative problem. May provide information about the administrative problem and other efforts that have attempted to address the issue. Theory analysis may lack clarity or be underdeveloped.	Critically uses chosen organizational theories to understand the selected administrative problem. Theory analysis is integrated and application to the problem is clear and fully developed. Provides well-articulated information about the administrative problem and other efforts that have attempted to address the issue.
Recommendations Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	Does not demonstrate a new understanding of the chosen administrative problem.	Demonstrates a partial understanding of the chosen administrative problem. The understanding is not detailed, and may lack a consideration of examples and reasoning to support understanding.	Demonstrates a thorough and new understanding of the chosen administrative problem. The understanding is detailed, including considerations of examples and reasoning to support understanding.

Evidence Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Does not present research and data to describe and elucidate a specific administrative issue.

Description of issue is unclear, unsupported by data, and/or underdeveloped. Does not utilize appropriate sources; overly relies on a particular source type, may not be able to leverage sources appropriately to address the paper topic.

Presents relevant research and data to describe and elucidate administrative issue of choice, but some data may be dated or inadequate and thus there may be a gap in presenting a holistic picture. Utilizes appropriate sources, including scholarly, empirical, governmental, non-profit, context-specific, and/or legal sources as needed to establish credibility, background, argument, and conclusion(s). Sources may lack needed scope, depth, breadth, or balance

sufficient to address the topic.

Presents relevant research and data to describe and elucidate administrative issue of choice. Utilizes appropriate sources, including scholarly, empirical, governmental, non-profit, context- specific, and/or legal sources as needed to establish credibility, background, argument, and conclusion(s). Breadth and depth of sources appropriate. Sources align well with paper purpose and scope.

Writing and Mechanics Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Sentence structure simplistic and unvaried. Patterns of grammatical, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, or usage errors. Evidence of academic irresponsibility, including notions of fairness, copyright, and/or plagiarism. Quotations from outside sources are not incorporated into own writing.

Contains some errors related to grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics. Errors are isolated.

Sentence structure may be appropriate but not varied, or may be simplistic.

Evidence of some academic responsibility (fairness, copyright, and plagiarism). Quotations from outside sources may not be incorporated into own

writing.

Free of grammatical, spelling, and/or mechanical errors.

Effective sentence structure, and well-chosen variety of sentence styles and length. The paper is well written and language is selected carefully. Evidence of academic responsibility (fairness, copyright, and free from plagiarism). Quotations from outside sources are incorporated into own writing. High level of

sophistication, clarity, precision, and flow of communication.

APA Guidelines Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Not formatted using APA guidelines (or assigned style) or significant formatting errors. Many sources (in-text and/or reference list citations) are missing or are not cited

properly.

Follows APA guidelines but a few errors are present. A few sources (in-text and/or reference list citations) may be missing or are not cited properly.

Follows APA guidelines. Sources (in-text and reference list citations) are cited properly.

LEAD 666 Rubric: Presentation and Peer Feedback (Assignment 5b)

	Needs Improvement	Sufficient	Above Average
Problem Statement & Analysis	Little discussion of problem, or problem divorced from context	Provides accurate information of problem	Develops succinct but rich explanation of problem, tied to important contextual information
Program Implementation & Assessment	Intervention ideas are missing, unclear, not tied to problem, and/or not measurable	Offers ideas for intervention that are relatively tied to problem and measurable through assessment plan addressed	Offers thoughtful and creative ideas for intervention program that are closely tied to issues developed in problem and can lead to measurable outcomes through assessment plan addressed
Organization and Structure	Final product is poorly organized (e.g., author may jump from topics without clarity) and difficult to follow.	Ideas are presented in logical sequence and audience has relatively little difficulty following.	Presentation is well organized, uses transitions and headings for clarity, and is structured in a way that builds on central thesis and easy to follow.
Creativity/Storytelling	Presentation lacks creative presentation or storytelling. Or original aspects detract from or overtake main points.	Presentation is engaging and tells the story of problem, intervention, and assessment.	Presentation is original, interesting, engaging, and interactive and tells the story of the problem, intervention, and assessment in a way that ties components together carefully and help better illustrate main points.

LEAD 666 HAT Rubric: Program Proposal (Assignment 6)

Criteria	Insufficient Evidence (0)	Developing (1)	Target (2)	Exemplary (3)
Organization and Structure Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	Thesis is confused or lack of thesis. No or little attention to audience, tone, and purpose. Organization confused or illogical.	Intelligible thesis statement that states the main purpose and scope of the paper. The paper is presented in a somewhat logical sequence and the audience has relatively little difficulty following.	Strong thesis statement that states the main purpose and scope of the paper. The paper is carefully organized and flows logically throughout. Clear understanding of audience, tone, and purpose.
Foundational Content Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	Does not explicitly describe or articulate evidence, statements, graphics, and questions. Lacks incorporation of outside resources to aid reader in why the issue is important.	Interprets evidence, statements, graphics, and questions but lacks resources to support why the issues are important. Discussion evidence, statements, graphics, and questions may lack clarity or be underdeveloped.	Critically interprets evidence, statements, graphics, and questions. Articulates and identifies salient arguments, reasons and claims and is supported by internal and external resources.
Critical Analysis Weighted	The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.	Does not provide an appropriate needs assessment, a developed plan along with implementation process, proper evaluation, nor determine an appropriate data collection method and instrument. Does not follow processes for conducting needs assessments.	Provides an appropriate needs assessment along with a developed plan with implementation process, proper evaluation, and has selected an appropriate data collection method and instrument. Follows processes for conducting needs assessments.	Provides a well-developed and extensive needs assessment clearly following multi-step processes for this phase of program development and assessment. Advances a program or project with a well- developed plan and proposes a thorough implementation process. Properly proposes ways to evaluate the program or project following best practices. Fully evaluates the strengths and limitations of different data collection methods and instruments and selects the most appropriate method(s) and instrument(s).

Recommendations Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Designs and develops a program that is extremely vague and

underdeveloped. Does not demonstrate understandings of or appropriate use of terminology and methods by which to develop and/or assess a program or project.

Demonstrates a partial understanding of the appropriate use of terminology and methods by which to develop and/or assess a program or project. Designs and develops a program that does not account for need capacity, program/project goals/outcomes, empirical research and/or best practices in Program Development and Assessment.

Demonstrates a thorough and new understanding of Program Development and Assessment.

Designs and develops a program that aligns with need, capacity, learning goals/outcomes, empirical research, and best practices in design principles. Measures impacts that advance student learning gains and other performance successes.

Constructs a preliminary improvement plan using data informed decision-making practices.

Evidence Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Does not select and facilitate appropriate data collection for systematic assessment

and evaluation efforts using current technology and methods. Description of issue is unclear, unsupported by data, and/or underdeveloped.

Does not utilize appropriate sources; overly relies on a particular source type, may not be able to leverage sources appropriately to address the paper topic.

Selects and facilitates appropriate data collection for systematic assessment

and evaluation efforts using current technology and methods, but some data may be dated or inadequate and thus there may be a gap in presenting a holistic picture. Sources may lack needed scope, depth, breadth, or balance sufficient to address the topic.

Selects and facilitates appropriate data collection for system/department-wide assessment and evaluation efforts using current technology and methods. Assesses the legitimacy, trustworthiness, and/ or validity of studies of various methods and methodological designs (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative, theoretical perspective, epistemological approach).

Considers rudimentary strengths and limitations of various methodological approaches.

Writing and Mechanics Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Quotations from outside sources are not incorporated into own writing.

Contains some errors related to grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics. Errors are isolated.

Sentence structure may be appropriate but not varied or may sometimes be simplistic. Evidence of some academic responsibility (fairness, copyright, and plagiarism). Quotations from outside sources may not be incorporated

into own writing.

Free of grammatical, spelling, and/or mechanical errors.

Effective sentence structure, and well-chosen variety of sentence styles and length. The paper is well written, and language is selected carefully. Evidence of academic responsibility (fairness, copyright, and free from plagiarism).

Quotations from outside sources are incorporated into own writing. High level of sophistication, clarity, precision, and flow of communication.

APA Guidelines Weighted

The assignment is not sufficiently developed in this area to assess.

Not formatted using APA guidelines (or assigned style) or significant formatting errors. Many sources (in-text and/or reference list citations) are missing or are not cited properly.

Follows APA guidelines but a few errors are present. A few sources (in-text and/or reference list citations) may be missing or are not cited properly.

Follows APA guidelines. Sources (in-text and reference list citations) are cited properly.

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LEAD 682 LEAD 666

Assignment 1: Institutional Profile

Assignment 2: Environmental Scan

Assignment 3: Problem Statement

Assignment 4: Theoretical Analysis of Problem

Assignment 5a: Executive Summary (LEAD 682 HAT)

NOTE: Assignment 5a is the creation of your executive summary; in Assignment 5b, you will present your executive summary to your peers.

Assignment 5b: Presentation and Peer Feedback

Assignment 6: Program Proposal (LEAD 666 HAT)

LEAD 682 HAT Rubric: Executive Summary (Assignment 5a)

LEAD 666 HAT Rubric: Program Proposal (Assignment 6)

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