Reflecting on the CAS Year: A Message from President Gayle Spencer

As CAS closes another fiscal year, President Gayle Spencer, Ph.D. reflects on the organization’s accomplishments, leadership transitions, and community highlights. From celebrating the service of outgoing Governing Board members to welcoming new leaders and continuing the Member Spotlight series, Gayle shares her gratitude for the past year and her vision for continuity and growth as CAS enters the year ahead.

Colleagues,
As the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) fiscal year draws to a close, now is the perfect time to reflect on what we have accomplished together while looking ahead to the year to come. This has been a year of meaningful contributions, hard conversations and decisions, and transitions that position us for the future.

We have continued to share the stories and expertise that make our community so strong. In December, we concluded our Past Presidents series, reflecting on the leaders who helped shape CAS into the organization it is today. Our ongoing Member Spotlight series has been a wonderful way to highlight the professionals and member associations who bring our standards to life on campuses across the country.

This year we honored the remarkable service of several Governing Board members now concluding their terms. Carol Miller Schaefer, Member at Large for Administration, is retiring from the Board after years of dedicated service to CAS and the National Association of College Stores. Christine Self, Member at Large for User Experience, and Dan Bureau, Member at Large for Assessment, Publications, and Research, will also step down from their Board roles. All three will conclude their terms on August 31, 2025.  Their contributions will certainly have a lasting impact on CAS. We are deeply grateful for their leadership, vision, and commitment to the mission of CAS.

It is with sincere gratitude that I share the Governing Board’s unanimous decision to extend my term as CAS President for another year. I am truly honored by their continued confidence in my leadership, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Council for the opportunity to serve. This continuity in leadership will help us maintain our momentum while we welcome new voices to the Governing Board and continue our path forward.

We are excited to celebrate our newly elected Governing Board members. Jeff Nelson will serve as Member at Large for Finance and Administration, Melissa L. Rocco and Patricia Mulcahy-will serve as Members at Large, and Jason Vlastaras will serve as President-Elect while continuing as Member at Large for Standards for another year. Their expertise, dedication, and perspectives will help guide CAS in the important work ahead.

As we enter a new fiscal year, CAS faces both significant challenges and exciting opportunities that will shape our future impact on higher education. Guided by the findings and recommendations from the SOVA consultancy’s comprehensive analysis, we have identified three priority areas of focus.

First, CAS is committed to modernizing our standards. We have initiated the process of issuing an RFP for a vendor to build a dynamic portal system that will provide institutions with nimble, flexible access to CAS standards. This modernization effort reflects our mission to ensure that CAS tools remain relevant, user-friendly, and responsive to the evolving needs of higher education practitioners.

Second, we are exploring the development of a Service Provider Model. This model will allow CAS to provide more direct and sustainable campus support for institutions engaged in assessment and program review. By offering tailored services, we aim to strengthen institutional capacity for meaningful outcomes assessment and foster continuous improvement.

Third, we are enhancing our collaborative strategies. CAS will intentionally seek partnerships with like-minded associations and organizations whose goals align with ours, expanding our reach and amplifying our collective voice in advancing student learning, development, and success.

Like many organizations in higher education, CAS is navigating financial pressures. We remain committed to careful stewardship of resources by reducing expenses where possible and pursuing opportunities to increase revenue. The next two years will be especially pivotal for CAS, and we are dedicated to maintaining transparency about our priorities, progress, and challenges as we move forward.

As we begin a new fiscal year, I look forward to building on our shared successes, welcoming our new leaders, and continuing to advance the standards that strengthen higher education programs and services. Thank you for your dedication to student learning, development, and success.
 
 
Sincerely,
Gayle
Gayle Spencer, Ph.D.
CAS President