Recently the Spanish higher education board launched a university evaluation program to institutionalize quality assessment as an extended, continuous, system-wide process. Self-study and external assessments are the program's cornerstones. The new quality assessment program and the experiences leading to it are explained. Potential problems and…

Examines the top graduate programs in the geosciences listed in a 1983 "Changing Times" article. Notes the nine programs are substantially linked to each other by hiring each others' graduates, and hence, enhancing each others' reputation. (Author/MVL)

Identifies pertinent constituencies that interact with state-level community college governance and coordinating bodies in assessment; data and information needed for and used with these constituencies; the balance of potentially conflicting pressures and ideas about institutional autonomy and state uniformity and control; and mechanisms for…

This article argues that the capacity for innovation in American higher education is at risk. Colleges and universities are persistently slow in accepting advancing technology, increasingly labor-intensive, and resistant to evaluation by their customers or in terms of efficiency. A rethinking of the roles and tasks of faculty and staff is…

Reports some of the results of an endeavor by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to evaluate the science teacher preparation programs of institutions seeking accreditation with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1988. Discusses the potential for the future of NSTA participation in NCATE. (LZ)

The way in which the University of Botswana went about building the consensus necessary to develop a new administrative and management structure is described. The process began with a commission review to address increasing demand, and progressed to recommendations, governing council response, a task force for reorganization, and implementation.…

Describes alternatives to bureaucratic centralism in the administration of national education systems. Discusses forms of decentralization based on political rationales (liberalism, federalism, populist localism, participatory democracy) and those concerned with quality or efficiency (pedagogic professionalism, management by objectives,…

Discussion of performance indicators' use in government-institutional relationships and funding decisions for higher education institutions draws on experiences of five countries (Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom). Roles of political culture, educational funding system, and quality assessment procedures used for resource…

Longitudinal analyses of individual growth curves and the aggregation of individual curves to describe institutional growth were studied using achievement scores from students moving from grade one to grade eight and their ability scores for one year. Complete data for 529 individuals (reading) and 527 individuals (mathematics) were used. (SLD)

Describes Columbus State Community College's assessment process and its reflection of the 10 characteristics identified by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools for student assessment programs. Provides information about program development and suggests implementation strategies for other colleges. (DMM)

Reports on Western Michigan University's efforts to assess programs at the undergraduate level. Describes the steps involved in deciding which student achievement areas to assess, which instruments to use, and who to test. Discusses effects on students and confidentiality issues. Reviews problems in implementing assessment. (DMM)

After years of counting books and toilets, the country's independent accrediting agencies are reflecting the changes occurring in education over the last decade. All six regional accrediting associations now examine student learning and are trying to shape the accreditation process into a tool for staff development and strategic planning. Sidebars…

Discusses the role of assessment in community colleges and reviews assessment from the perspective of accrediting bodies. Examines challenges faced by community colleges including planning strategically, implementing effective transfer and articulation, achieving affirmative learning environments, and fulfilling college missions and objectives…

Suggests that the introduction of corporate management ideals signals profound changes in the way public authorities understand academic activity and discusses the impact of these changes on institutional autonomy and academic freedom. Examines these changes from the perspective of a Norwegian university, focusing particularly on normative ideals…

Examines the "evaluative state" that is, public management-based evaluation systems--in the context of experiences in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and suggests that further research is needed to examine problems in the evaluative state itself, in how market competition impacts upon it, and how academic oligarchies influence the…