What Are Benchmark Scores?

agree strongly agree

SENSE: Quantitative and Qualitative Data

once, two or three times, four or more times

disagree strongly disagree

agree strongly agree

never

agree strongly agree

Digging Deeper: Exploring the Data

External Comparisons

Internal Comparisons

Start with the benchmarks

Look at individual survey items associated with the benchmarks.

Disaggregate the data .

1. Losing sight of the overarching goal.

2. Focusing exclusively on external comparisons.

3. Settling for merely better than average.

4. Failing to look behind the numbers.

5. Overlooking the opportunity to learn from others.

6. Confusing benchmarking with ranking.

7. Ignoring — or hiding behind — context.

8. Looking for someone to blame.

9. Believing that small-scale success solves big-scale problems.

10. Making everything (or nothing) a priority.

Ten Common Benchmarking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The Center Opposes Ranking

SENSE Website

Detailed SENSE ndings,

Accreditation toolkits,

Focus group toolkit,

Tools for using SENSE,

Entering Student Success Institute

SENSE

SENSE and Student Engagement