Needs assessment is an integral part of designing instruction for adults. However, more work needs to be done to strengthen the definition and theory. Needs assessment will be served by carefully designed studies that analyze the extent and type of impact needs assessments have had on subsequent program development activities. (CT)

Some noncredit university continuing education programs are more readily subject to impact evaluation than most. Impact studies are reported for two such programs, one on governmental accounting and one on criminal justice. (CT)