Over the past few decades, deterioration in student achievement has provoked a pervasive public sentiment that American institutions are failing to meet the needs and expectations of society. The growing public demand for transparency and accountability has fueled the integration of state-mandated learning outcomes assessment into the standards…

Two California bills (signed into law in fall 1984) designed to improve state standards for approving and authorizing private, nonaccredited colleges and universities are examined, with attention to the background to the bills, the key changes in statute that each bill accomplished, and the current status in their implementation. Senate Bill 2151…

Formally stating and assessing student learning outcomes (SLOs) is a new focus for California community colleges required by the 2002 Accreditation Standards. This paper, the first in a series, explores one aspect of this sea change across the state: the emergence of a new group of faculty leaders, Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment…