Because there is more doubt than ever before about the accomplishments of today's college graduates, the public, employers, often the graduates themselves, and others seek assurance that a program's graduates are competent and qualified. There is now the expectation that accreditation will give them that assurance. Moreover, nearly everyone seeks…

The rising demand for accountability has had a great influence on the design and use of management information systems. The purposes of accountability, needs assessment, and program evaluation would be well served if a set of indlcators could include information about the outcomes of higher education. (MLW)

A broad description and critique of assessment activities in colleges and universities is presented. The ideals of assessment are discussed along with organizational realities that temper and restrain them. Suggested strategies for practicing assessment that reduces perils and enhances contributions are provided. (MLW)

The state policy implications of using higher education performance indicators for accountability purposes are examined, based on the experiences of 10 case study states (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin) and others that have initiated such efforts. Specific issues that must be…

If institutional accountability shifts from compliance with state rules to demonstration of progress, both policy and institutional interests may be better served. The legislature or governor is the most likely source of pressure to develop outcome measures, but results will not occur until accountability reaches the faculty level. (MSE)

Each state is accountable for the quality of its postsecondary educational program. However, most states have either delegated this responsibility to nongovernmental accrediting agencies or chosen not to exercise their full authority in this area. (MLW)

Higher Education's "accountability movement" is being accompanied by greater use of performance indicator systems in response to external mandates in the United States and Europe. These indicators are usually designed to examine institutional productivity relative to the public investment made in it, as contrasted with evaluation of…

A discussion of the performance indicator system used at the University of Wisconsin to provide feedback to stakeholders and encourage continuous improvement of services includes background on the system's context and development, legislative and governing board involvement, resulting recommendations, and three examples of specific accountability…

Missouri's two-tiered higher education funding program addresses state-level accountability demands while rewarding campus-level improvements in teaching and learning. The context and evolution of the program are described, characteristics of the state-level and campus-level planning efforts are outlined, and issues in implementation and future…

The more successful college and university responses to the demand for accountability and assessment have been campus-based, with administrative and faculty leadership and support. Efforts initiated in state governments have been less substantive. An emerging trend in Europe is toward quality audits by peer assessment teams, reflecting greater…

The development of a complex, highly computerized system of performance indicators by the State University of New York provides the means to monitor internal progress, report to a skeptical public, and compare the system's performance with a national sample of institutions. The system is described here, and the performance indicators and data…

Budget reforms adopted at the University of Montana and by the Arkansas state higher education system illustrate a variety of strategies for long-range planning. These efforts include reform of faculty collective bargaining, funding based on productivity enhancement, and a multiyear fiscal plan encompassing both operating and capital budgets. (MSE)

To develop a set of effective performance indicators, three campuses of Texas A&M University collaborated: a large research university, a historically black institution, and an urban campus undergoing major changes. Evolution of the project and the strategies used to develop core indicators while addressing the different institutional missions…