<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Truer words were never spoken, Dave.  In other words: Not everything that matters can be measured.  Not everything that can be measured, matters. -Albert Einstein. My 2 cents (if that), Ken Z. On 10/24/07 9:44 AM, "Porritt, David" <dporritt@mail.smu.edu> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>Eric:   I agree with about all that you’ve said below.  I’m just not sure how a test can be created that will truly test the skills that a successful CAUT will need.  This is especially true since so many jobs are so varied.  I wish you success in your efforts to create a test.  Perhaps I’m just not creative enough to see how it’s going to happen.  I can envision a test for minimum skills – i.e. a person who can’t pass this test has no chance at a successful CAUT career.  But moving to the other end of the success ladder is far more difficult.   In many cases the high school football coach might have the exact same training and background (played college/pro ball etc.) as the successful NFL coach but the differences are un-testable, un-quantifiable personal qualities.  The qualities that make the successful CAUT are difficult to even describe let alone test.  Possibly the first step should be to describe in words what makes a successful CAUT then try to determine how to test for those skills and qualities.  I don’t know.  I do know that you have been given a really tough job to come up with a test that will actually do what you want it to do!!   dave   David M. Porritt, RPT dporritt@smu.edu <dporritt@smu.edu>   From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]">mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]</a> On Behalf Of Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel) Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:56 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement Dave,   I guess I’ll be the “angel’s advocate” here and change the scenario a bit. Say you had two candidates with fairly equal qualifications, experience, references, etc., but one had taken the time and effort to be an active member of the PTG and had passed the “CAUT test” (whatever form that may take), which one would you choose? Showing a commitment towards gaining and improving skills is a definite plus in my book and would tip the scales for me, credit history and personal grooming issues aside. (Do they really check credit history when reviewing a job applicant’s application?) There will also be quite a bit of material specific to CAUT work included in the curriculum which will help a CAUT- trained candidate be prepared to suggest possible improvements to the institution’s piano maintenance program in an interview situation.   It sounds like you have an excellent relationship with your faculty which tells me you are doing a great job at SMU and a candidate for your position would probably be able to slip in, “get with the program” and continue your good work. Your 21 years experience has a lot to do with that. There are many programs out there however which are in desperate need of somebody either with a whole lot of experience in an institutional setting or some good training. This is the issue we are trying to address with the CAUT curriculum and the CAUT endorsement.   Eric Eric Wolfley, RPT Director of Piano Services Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati </BLOCKQUOTE>-- Ken Zahringer, RPT Piano Technician MU School of Music 297 Fine Arts 882-1202 cell 489-7529 </BODY> </HTML>