Program Manuals

The SSS Program has seven manuals developed in-house. The information included in the manuals are used by staff as internal control systems. They serve as training manuals for new staff and guidance for the day-to-day work that fulfills the Plan of Operation in the funded grant application. The Director works with the staff as a team to ensure policies and procedures are followed to achieve measurable goals. The manuals also serve as a means of informing staff, students, faculty, and community benefactors so that they understand how the program works. Following are brief descriptions of the manuals:

1. Policies and Procedures Manual (Table of Contents - PDF file)
   This is computerized and a hard copy is distributed to each staff member. The manual contains office policies, time commitments of key program staff, staff job descriptions, policies and procedures for tutors and details of the administration of the three program components. Covering not only SSS policies and procedures but also those of Wichita State University, this manual is used by the staff to perform their everyday functions to the best of their ability. Time and leave policies, travel procedures, and purchasing guidelines are a few of the topics covered in this manual.
2. Calendar for Program Management
   This is used on a daily basis by the Director and each staff member and is reviewed at staff meetings to ensure completion of tasks by deadlines and flow of work. Each page of the calendar contains the monthly program and university activities and events. Under each activity, specific work responsibilities and deadlines are listed. Monthly events and related tasks to be completed by each staff member are clearly identified. All twelve months are outlined in detail so that the goals and objectives of SSS can be achieved. At the end of the document is a GNATT Chart to display to staff which task is to be completed with others and the time at which the projects are to be completed.
3. Tutor Handbook
   This facilitates the training of SSS Tutors and is the textbook for the course, CESP 750E. The tutors use this handbook as they perform their duties for students. More information on this handbook is included in the tutoring section of this book.
4. Database Manual
   This is a tool to help SSS staff use the FileMaker Pro software to track student records in the databases. The procedures in the manual outline the steps, which track each component's activities. The manual contains detailed descriptions of information required for each database and the purpose of each activity with a sample print-out of the screen.
5. Forms Manual
   All of the forms used by SSS are included in this manual. Most forms are included in their original size so that staff can photocopy them for their use.
6. Emergency Manual
   This covers the emergency procedures in place by the State of Kansas and Wichita State University. Also included are some simple first aid guidelines and steps on how to handle bomb threats.
7. Program Overview and Performance Report (SSS Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation Report)
   Developed yearly, this report summarizes the activities performed by the SSS staff during the previous grant year. Program statistics and evaluation results are included in this report.