This study examines two community college instructional support programs to explore the effectiveness of an evaluation model--responsive evaluation theory--that may ease the tensions between a concern over programs' processes and reporting requirements for program outcomes. The study uses a comparative qualitative case study design and applies…

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…

Community colleges nationwide are tasked with meeting the needs of a wide range of students, many of whom come to higher education with financial, educational, and social disadvantages. Developing strategies to effectively serve these students and promote their academic and personal success can be challenging and resource-intensive. The study…

Reviews the use of licensure examination results as performance indicators of graduate and undergraduate programs. Contains appendix showing information on how examination results are reported in selected disciplines. (17 citations) (JDI)

Building stronger networks for transfer student success involves both inter-institutional and intra-institutional collaboration. This article explores successful efforts of the Office of Transfer Services at the University of Central Florida to address three critical components of transfer student success: 1) preparation, which involves the…

Discusses three distinct but related efforts toward postsecondary outcomes assessment in Washington: assessment, accountability, and accreditation. Analyzes the ongoing struggle to find a productive synthesis of these three arenas, provides an historical context for the work to date, and makes suggestions for "assessment-as-learning."…

Describes how Skagit Valley College (Washington) addresses program-level learning outcomes assessment. Reports that the activities and requirements related to the college's participation in the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges' 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project have encouraged a more comprehensive assessment effort. (Contains…

Presents findings of a study comparing respondents, involuntary nonrespondents (due to inaccurate addresses) and voluntary nonrespondents to a mailed survey for former students of a large northeastern community college. Results suggest that respondents were more dissimilar to the nonrespondent groups than the two nonrespondent groups were to each…

Describes the organizational culture at Shoreline Community College (Washington) and how it supports data collection and assessment throughout the institution. Traces the development of the culture and identifies key organizational practices and characteristics underlying the college's commitment to assessment theory and practice. (Contains 12…

Describes how South Seattle Community College (Washington) is addressing the challenge of portraying the variety of assessment efforts that are occurring across all levels--institutional, departmental, and individual course/classroom--in a way that helps the college address meaningful improvement goals at the same time. Contains four references…

Discusses the history, struggles, and successes of assessment work done at Tacoma Community College (TCC) (Washington). Demonstrates the state and national work TCC has accomplished and the partnerships that have been formed with other institutions as a result of the work. Offers assessment grid example. (NB)

Describes the philosophy and practical steps involved in doing outcomes assessment on student services. Discusses several assessment models, with special attention placed on Nichol's outcomes assessment template. Describes the process as applied at Lower Columbia College (Washington). (Contains two tables and seven references.) (NB)

Provides an annotated bibliography of 13 research studies in the ERIC database that examine how and to what effect telecommunications and related technologies have been used in community college instructional programs. Includes studies of telecommunications usage, student characteristics, and outcomes and program planning and evaluation documents.…

Describes two methodologies utilized to evaluate developmental reading instruction at Suffolk Community College (New York). The first examined student grade point averages (GPAs), and the second compared pre- and posttest reading test scores. Finds beneficial impact on students' overall GPAs and significant gains in reading skills. Suggests the…

Lists the latest ERIC documents that describe institutional and state studies of community college remedial programs. Provides bibliographical information and a brief abstract of relevant documents. (YKH)