Accreditation is a critical tool for quality assurance and accountability for higher education, signaling an institution's commitment to academic quality and fiscal integrity. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) published this statement to help board…

The Annual Service Plan Report (ASPR) is designed to meet the requirements of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act (BTAA), which sets out the legislative framework for planning, reporting and accountability for Government organizations. Under the BTAA, the Minister is required to report on the actual results of the Ministry's performance…

The professional accreditation agencies are making demands for assessment of student learning. These demands are not expected to lessen in the near future. The accreditation agencies are suggesting that educators should shift their focus from what faculty teach to what students learn. The authors show the development and implementation of an…

Strategic planning is complex (Dodd, 2004), and when managed well, it requires deliberate incorporation of evidenced-based data and the collaboration of key stakeholders. Thus, it is essential that the planning process includes the integration of data that are collected regularly and that both internal and external professional partners have the…

This manuscript seeks to share the continuous improvement endeavors by the College of Education faculty and administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from initial preparation and planning through their successful national and state accreditation achieved in November 2005. Beginning with the unit's revision of their conceptual…

Increased focus on assessment of student learning in the accreditation of higher education institutions offers new, challenging opportunities for institutional researchers. This article explores how institutional researchers can maximize these opportunities by offering methodological guidance in the assessment process and by designing new studies…

Three case studies of university communication audits are presented to illustrate recommendations and changes implemented in institutional communication as a result of the audit. (JMF)

Review of quality assurance programs in higher education in developing countries considers best practices, the relationship of quality assurance to economic development, characteristics of universities in developing countries, and barriers to quality assurance activities in these countries. Stresses that quality assurance programs in developing…

As part of a study of the planning and budgeting process at the departmental level at North Texas State University (NTSU), 20 pilot departments were asked to develop a comprehensive five-year plan for 1979-1984, and annual plans and budget requests for fiscal year 1980 and for future biennial periods. This guide is offered for use of the pilot…

Connecticut's Public Act 99-285 clarifies the major goals and expectations that Connecticut citizens have for their public system of higher education. In this Act, the state legislature has codified its desires by identifying six priority level goals for higher education: (1) enhance student learning and promote academic excellence; (2) join with…

A State University of New York program is described in order to illustrate how self-assessment can serve two purposes: accreditation and sound institutional growth. In order to establish systems of self-assessment that support growth, the institution must identify and understand the obstacles it faces. (Author/MLW)

The paper examines varieties of program assessment in institutions of higher education and proposes a procedure to implement systematic assessment of program outcomes. Presented in a question-and-answer format, the paper first addresses common faculty concerns about formal assessment in sections titled, "Why Not Use GPA (Grade Point Average)?" and…

This book focuses on contemporary accreditation, why it matters, and how it can be done effectively. The author covers historical background, getting started, strategies for achieving accreditation, and visions for future academic success, with examples and case studies. Accreditation is the primary way of ensuring the quality of higher education…

This report by the Department of Education examines the progress made by the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program in reaching its objectives. The report notes that for objective 1, customer satisfaction, more than 4 million direct loan records have been processed and over 1 million updates applied since winter 1999; that 84 percent of school…

This workbook develops basic strategic planning models and presents a step-by-step guide for those involved in a college or university's strategic planning process. The model contains 10 steps, from inception of the plan through the activities of review and revision after the strategic planning committee has completed its planning exercise and…