Considers the measurement of institutional effectiveness an opportunity for college renewal, clarification of college mission, improvement of work environments, and enhancement of an institution's reputation. Defines institutional effectiveness and discusses how it can be measured, listing a number of indicators of how well a college is performing…

Describes the efforts of Midlands Technical College in South Carolina, to initiate an institutional effectiveness program centered on client satisfaction. Suggests that by shifting the focus of evaluations to student success the college ensures the optimum effectiveness of the delivery of its services. (MAB)

The institutional effectiveness movement has emerged on the higher education agenda because of increased global competition, decreased funding levels, and a loss of public confidence in higher education. While the movement's emphasis on outcomes-based accountability has been integrated into state mandates, accreditation processes, and educational…

In the mid-1980's, the paradigm used by business and elected leaders for viewing higher education shifted toward an emphasis on accountability and institutional effectiveness. In general, community colleges have been more responsive than senior colleges to accountability mandates, in part because community colleges have measured their progress in…

In 1988, Midlands Technical College (MTC) launched a comprehensive institutional effectiveness initiative involving two primary components, planning and evaluation. Planning at MTC is composed of a strategic planning cycle and a complementary operational planning cycle. Strategic planning, conducted in two-year cycles, establishes the essential…