Comment on Cornelius Ruth's post:
Your reflection captures something the module emphasized throughout — that comprehensive research requires both breadth (gathering from every facet) and depth (when in doubt, doing more). Many institutions cut research short to save time and end up paying much higher costs when programs fail to attract students or meet employer demand.
Your phrase about "taking information from every facet" resonates with the multiple constituency sources the module identified — students, alumni, employers, community organizations, internal departments, and external data sources. Each angle reveals something the others miss.
The focus groups insight you raised is also worth honoring. The module specifically positioned focus groups as validation tools held after analysis is complete, with members who didn't participate in earlier surveys, providing fresh perspective on conclusions. This kind of layered research builds confidence in decisions before significant resources are committed.
In my context as College Director at Central Virginia Community College's Amherst Early College Center, your point about teaming up resonates deeply. Single-perspective decisions, even from experienced leaders, often miss important considerations that diverse teams catch.
Thank you for highlighting these themes.
With Benevolence, Shannon
