Although school accreditation has a long history in the United States, relatively few elementary schools have sought and attained regional accreditation status. This paper examines the issues in regional accreditation for elementary schools with a focus on the process and benefits to the individual school. Steps in the process include self-study,…

In preparation for an accreditation visit, Hutchinson Community College (HCC), in Kansas, conducted a self-study to determine if their institutional practices were consistent with their mission and undertook other activities to ensure a smooth site visit. A steering committee first prepared a self-study manual which identified the purpose, goals,…

This book presents seven essays on evaluation in higher education. In "Threats and Opportunities of Evaluation in Higher Education" Roeland in't Veld sets the policy frameworks for increased emphasis on evaluation. In "Institutional Evaluation: The Role of the Main Actors in Higher Education" Andre Staropoli describes the roles of the forces which…

Williamette University, traditionally considered a church-related institution, was examined by comparing it with the definitions set forth by several authors as to what constitutes a church-related or Christian college and also comparing it with the seven steps that generally occur as a church-related college becomes secularized, as established by…

The history of assessment in American higher education is examined, with a focus on the period after World War II. Assessment practices in the early years of higher education are also discussed. Assessment studies concentrated on either the college, the curriculum, or students. Questions that have been investigated by specific assessment studies…

This paper describes the purposes of educational evaluation with particular emphasis on school improvement. The evaluation process used was based upon the analytical tools developed and tested by the Educational Productivity Council (EPC) of the University of Texas. An early form of this model and reporting system was introduced to a group of 68…

The involvement of women and minorities in the accrediting process was studied nationally. The experiences of women and minorities who participated in the accrediting process were surveyed, including perceived or actual empowerment derived from participation. Views of accrediting agencies and member institutions were also assessed. Respondents…

This Association of Research Libraries (ARL) kit on collection assessment contains the following documents: (1) "Guidelines for the Evaluation of Library Collections--Draft Copy" (Collection Development Committee, Resource Section, Resources and Technical Services Division, American Library Association); (2) "Guidelines for Collection Assessment"…

Eligibility criteria for institutional participation in the Cal Grant awards program was assessed by the California Postsecondary Education Commission in cooperation with the Student Aid Commission. Attention was directed to alternatives to these criteria that would permit the use of these awards by both undergraduates enrolled in nonaccredited,…

The 1987 Association for Institutional Research annual forum theme, "Managing Education Better," is covered by keynote and general sessions speakers from four angles: (1) how to study the student, (2) effects of different presidential styles, (3) the changing role of information technology, and (4) evaluating the effectiveness of our…

A policy statement on the accreditation process as adopted by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) is presented. The process requires an honest, rigorous self-analysis, an on-site evaluation by a team of peers, a team report, a review by an accrediting body, and final action defining the accredited status of the institution or program…

This paper addresses the problem of how to introduce new forms of evaluation into school organization without a damaging loss of trust. The evaluators here are teachers engaged in curriculum policy evaluation within the schools in which they work. One way of conceptualizing and rooting contemporary activity under the label of school…

The Austin Independent School Districts (AISD) presents a summary of major findings related to accreditation, plus technical information on evaluation activities conducted during 1982-83. A time use study of social studies and science at the elementary level, conducted in response to a request made by the Texas Education Agency after the 1981-82…

In 1983, 100 members of a second-year marketing class at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) participated in a market research project to determine the views of BCIT and other postsecondary institutions held by various groups outside of the college, to analyze the findings, and to prepare recommendations for action by BCIT. A total of…

Accreditation is examined in a book designed to be both a general reference and training tool. Many aspects of accreditation are covered: how it works, its impact, why it is often misunderstood or misused, how it is being adapted to educational innovations, and how it can be used to improve educational quality. The authors discuss the growth of…