We explore institutional change and organizational learning in higher education in the context of a large-scale reform of developmental education in Florida. We use statewide survey data to examine administrators' perceptions of the use and effectiveness of accountability metrics, methods to identify solutions to improve student outcomes, and…

Tarrant County College's Achieving the Dream transformation has not only changed the college but all who engaged in the initiative. In four years, through ATD TCC became a college with one purpose, one goal, and one focus--student success through data informed decision making. From TCC Chancellor Dr. Erma Johnson Hadley to campus administrators,…

Since 2004, Rhodes State College has been at the forefront of developing an institution-wide model of institutional effectiveness--Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness Planning System (SIEPS). A focus on both measuring mission effectiveness and strategic achievement led to development of a unique electronic application that tracks the direct…

This article reviews the Maricopa Integrated Risk Assessment (MIRA) project and discusses its challenges and successes. Strategies and resources are offered for assisting community college administrators, faculty, and staff to successfully implement enterprise risk management at their institutions.

In the spring of 2002 we conducted a structure-focused case study at 4 North Carolina community colleges to understand how selected senior campus leaders assessed a new legislatively-mandated institutional-accountability program. Using confidential interviews and document analysis we collected, analyzed, and interpreted data that revealed clear…

Discusses the Roundtable on Higher Education, which brought together stakeholders of the North Dakota University System (NDUS) to establish a common vision, a clear set of expectations, and the results for which the system would be held accountable. Reports that the Roundtable reached a level of accomplishment beyond any expectations, and that the…

States that, with limited budgets and taxpayers becoming more results oriented, institutions of higher education must develop evaluation processes to ensure that programs are meeting the needs of stakeholders. Describes one such process at Fox Valley Technical College (Wisconsin) that includes: (1) selection of programs; (2) preliminary…

Drawing from the experiences of Rio Salado Community College (Arizona) in implementing Total Quality Management, discusses common barriers to change (e.g., time, aversion to change, and pitfalls of change); leadership failure as a cause of failure in TQM implementation; and the importance of constancy of purpose, employee empowerment, and…

Defines Total Quality Management (TQM) and describes prerequisites for successful implementation, underlying assumptions, and the cultural barriers hindering implementation. Indicates that TQM's long-term benefits outweigh costs at most colleges. Urges practitioners to rate their schools with respect to the prerequisites and assumptions to…