ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the Context, Actions, and Outcomes (CAO) model. The CAO model focuses intently on the institutional responsibility for student success. The model takes into account the contextual aspects of the institution, the institution's actions and ethos to support student success, as well as the outcomes derived from those efforts. The benefit of the domains as embodied within the CAO model is the proper specification of a historically mis-specified model of student success. Institutional responsibility shifts the onus of student success from the student to the organization itself. The deficit cognitive framework has a focus on blaming students, their families, and their communities for inadequate student outcomes. The discourse for the frame centers on students' lack of preparedness, self-determination, and academic habits. The theory is also regularly pointed to by academic and student affairs leaders to justify co-curricular activities, extracurricular activities, leadership development, and academic programming that provide avenues for increased integration into a college environment.
