Recent college assessment initiatives of the federal government, regional accrediting associations, state systems of higher education, and higher education institutions are examined. The goals and strategies of existing college assessment programs are also considered. The following issues related to developing and implementing college assessment policies and practices are discussed: student placement and remediation, student progression and graduation, general education program evaluation, student major field achievement, and instruments used in evaluations. Guidelines for governance organizations and institutions that are establishing assessment policies are offered, including: assessment policies should be multidimensional; college assessment policies should exceed the goal of minimum competency; and assessment policies should include provisions for analyses of the effects of assessment. Appendices include: the Middle State Association Criteria on Program and Student Outcomes, and the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Standard for Institutional Effectiveness; descriptions of the assessment statutes and policies of seven states; and information on the college assessment programs of three colleges. (SW)