In this chapter, the author proposes a model for assessing institutional effectiveness. The Volkwein model for assessing institutional effectiveness consists of five parts that summarize the steps for assessing institutions, programs, faculty, and students. The first step in the model distinguishes the dual purposes of institutional effectiveness:…

Evaluative statements from alumni have legitimacy with both internal and external stakeholders. Thus, alumni studies can provide valuable evidence of institutional effectiveness and lend themselves to both locally designed and commercial survey instruments for data collection. Under ideal conditions, the results of alumni studies equip faculty and…

Despite their apparent popularity among those seeking degrees and credentials, today's colleges and universities face several interrelated public criticisms and concerns. When these competing concerns about student success, productivity, cost, and educational effectiveness all collide at the campus level, they create an array of campus tensions…

A conceptual framework is proposed for describing and measuring assessment costs and linking these costs to their informational benefits. Direct resource components and incidental and opportunity costs of evaluation are discussed. (MLW)

Methods by which annual evaluation and review of departments at Michigan State has moved from a limited exercise to a valued administrative tool are described. A model is used that has as its basic unit the academic department and that is an operational system for departmental review and resource allocation in a complex university. (Editor/LBH)

Assessment programs designed to improve instruction should be based on strong theoretical models of student learning, motivation, and instruction. A taxonomy of learning strategies is provided. (MLW)

The complex and sensitive question of how to introduce new ideas and approaches into postsecondary education in ways that will facilitate their consideration and implementation is discussed. Assessment and the processes of change; changes in federal, state, institutional, and individual roles; and change models are described. (MLW)