This paper describes how the Northridge campus of California State University incorporated academic program assessment into its regular practices using opinion leaders, diffusion methods, and collaboration between faculty and administration. Elements of the assessment program included: (1) appointment of an assessment coordinator; (2) high priority given to assessment; (3) periodic visits with academic deans; (4) assessment discussions involving various constituencies in the University; (5) revision of the program review process to include assessment findings; (6) program implementation which creates a need for assessment information; (7) an assessment policy; (8) high status given to assessment by governance; (9) faculty incentives for assessment; (10) incorporation of assessment in important faculty initiatives; (11) incorporation of assessment in administrative initiatives; (12) use of outside experts to share assessment information with campus communities; and (13) serendipitous internal and external forces for assessment. (MAH)