California's community college accountability strategy, the Partnership for Excellence program, includes, as an aspect of the outcome assessment component of the program, a mechanism to "level the playing field" between colleges. This function is accomplished through adjustment models, statistically derived equations that "adjust" for observed…

Argues that community colleges are becoming more reliant on support from external stakeholders to design programs and deliver services to customers. Suggests that colleges need to supplement traditional academic indicators of performance with external indicators, which involves a shift from a closed to an open systems-assessment approach. (JDI)

Describes how Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon developed a matrix that identifies major assessment requirements and a calendar that shows the timing of activities necessary to meet these requirements. Discusses each assessment requirement as well as inconsistencies that exist between requirements. Contains one data table and 11 references.…