Inherent in the current school reform movement is an assumption that good schools are effective schools (Cuban, 1998). Effectiveness is usually defined narrowly in terms of academic achievement. Other purposes of schools related to social justice, developing student social skills, student health, or the personal development of students has not…

Formally stating and assessing student learning outcomes (SLOs) is a new focus for California community colleges required by the 2002 Accreditation Standards. This paper, the first in a series, explores one aspect of this sea change across the state: the emergence of a new group of faculty leaders, Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment…

As a consequence of the suspension of a system of yearly evaluations of individual courses with student questionnaires, the University of Leuven organised a broad consultation of the academic community focussing on what they expect from a system based on student feedback. The study revealed that this community attaches great importance to a clear…

This consultants' report reviews the New College of the University of South Florida, a small liberal arts college which is unusual in its lack of specific general education requirements, and its attention to independent study. After reviewing a considerable list of strengths, concerns are identified including the need to ensure that every student…

This book contains 10 essays on the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education that include extensive, specific examples of how the principles have been applied at many colleges and universities. It also includes faculty, institutional and student inventories for self-assessment under the Seven Principles. Following an…

This comprehensive handbook contains accreditation materials of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. These include the general institutional requirements, the criteria for accreditation, and new policies on institutional change. The chapters are: (1) "Introduction to Voluntary…

This report presents data collected in a pilot study of 55 day care programs in 14 states by the National Child Care Association. Information was gathered through: (1) day care center self-evaluations; (2) surveys of staff, parents, and children; and (3) on-site visits. The first of the report's two sections presents data from the self-evaluations…

Users of optical data disk (CD-ROM) materials at the Main Library workstations of the State University of New York at Albany were surveyed to examine the problems they encountered while conducting their searches, identify factors that interfere with their task performance, determine their needs with regard to improvement in the databases they…

In spring 1983, a follow-up study was conducted of students who received a certificate or associate degree (AA) from Harford Community College (HCC) during the 1981-82 academic year. Surveys were mailed to 491 graduates requesting information on their goals and goal achievement, transfer and employment experiences, and satisfaction with HCC. A…

This special project, a fifth year review of an institution under current accrediting commission policy, was undertaken at College of the Siskiyous (COS). Its purpose was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the institution and its programs and services through surveys of community residents, staff members, and former and current students. A…

The findings of a pilot study of Pennsylvania's School Performance Incentive (SPI) program are presented in this report. School level incentive policies as elements of the entrepreneurial context of educational restructuring and an organizational model for an incentive-based merit system are also discussed. The study examines the effect of SPI on…

This resource contains checklists, worksheets, and examples to encourage staff to share their views and to precipitate action. It assumes an open system of college management with a desire to be efficiently and effectively responsive to local needs. Section I describes briefly some challenges the further education system faces. Section II…

The Multilevel Evaluation Systems project was field tested in grades 4 and 5 classrooms in five districts of the University of Pennsylvania's School Council. Multilevel evaluation coordinates multiple sources of information (about student characteristics, school context, school and instructional processes, and a range of student outcomes) with…

As part of a comprehensive community impact/needs assessment, Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) conducted surveys of faculty, classified staff, and administrators. Questionnaires solicited information on respondent characteristics, PHCC's mission and goals, the purpose of postsecondary education, the adequacy of PHCC's services and programs,…

Proceedings are presented of the 1979 meeting of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which includes speeches on outcomes assessment along with the business meeting of the Association. In the keynote address, "Outcomes Assessment--A New Era in Accreditation," Howard R. Bowen identifies goals an educational institution…