Shares suggestions for the school improvement process derived from the experiences of the North Central Association Commission on Schools' efforts to assist member schools with their improvement efforts. Includes topics such as assessment instruments, leadership roles, cooperation among faculty, committees, and peer assistance. (AJL)

Describes the development of a Comenius project involving four European countries, which focused on school self-evaluation. The project resulted in an international course held in Italy. The paper describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the course, noting problems and solutions, strengths and limitations, recommendations for…

Drawing on data from a survey of 1980 British college graduates, describing graduates' employment experiences six years after graduation, various institutional performance indicators concerning students' career prospects are evaluated. It is concluded that the First Destination Record of entry-level employment has only partial validity. (MSE)

Acknowledges that assessment is often perceived as a costly ordeal with minimal benefits to the institution beyond meeting external reporting requirements. Presents examples of assessment data already available in existing records, and ways in which colleges can leverage the results of assessment to serve multiple purposes. (MAB)

Describes the ways which college presidents can promote assessment by mobilizing institutional resources for assessment; balancing conflicts between assessing for effectiveness, efficiency, and improvement; and communicating assessment results to college constituencies. Indicates that presidents must be actively involved in planning and…

Describes three qualitative research approaches used at Oakton Community College to provide insights into student experience as well as college assessment and promotion activities. Indicates that, when used with quantitative research, qualitative research results in a more comprehensive and realistic appraisal of student outcomes and institutional…

Describes 13 methodological options for assessing student learning and development, discussing advantages, disadvantages, techniques for reducing the disadvantages, and bottomline strategies as a guideline for selecting a suitable method. Indicates that it is crucial to use a multimethod approach to obtain maximum validity. (MAB)

Describes development of NAEYC accreditation and offers a description of the process. Highlights the effects of accreditation and discusses its future. Notes that accreditation provides opportunities and motivation for valuable professional development, and that quality control is the greatest challenge faced by accreditation efforts. Notes…

Origins of Australia's university quality improvement program are outlined, and its design is examined. Issues discussed include implications of the program for individual institutions, its proposed method of redistributing research funds, and potential problems associated with performance appraisal. (MSE)

Proposes a model to enable programs in applied or professional psychology to clarify and refine their missions through the curricula they generate. A case example illustrates the model's application in acceptance and implementation of recommended curriculum changes in Rutgers University's Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology.…

The important part played in monitoring systems by site visits by inspectors is discussed and illustrated with a review of the role played by the national inspectorate for education in England (Her Majesty's Inspectorate). Inspection has the potential to generate performance indicators of educational quality. (SLD)

Outsiders (i.e., regulators, adjudicators, and "messiahs") frequently arrive with insistent demands for school change. The demands of these interest groups should not be set ahead of those of legitimate stakeholders at the school level. Having some interest at risk and commitment are characteristics that distinguish stakeholders from…

Discusses the time, personnel, resources, and aids needed to support six phases of institutional assessment: clarifying the assessment object and context, designing the assessment, collecting and analyzing data, communicating findings, using findings, and evaluating the assessment. (DMM)

Stresses the importance of faculty ownership of the assessment process. Discusses factors underlying faculty resistance to assessment and ways institutional leaders can minimize resistance. Challenges administrators to create an institutional environment where teaching, learning, and student achievement of expected learning outcomes are high…

The Network for Outcome-Based Schools developed an accreditation process designed to assess the degree to which the outcome-based education (OBE) paradigm is in place in schools or school districts. Three attributes of the process and the importance of OBE and OBE accreditation are discussed. (SM)