THE GOAL -- (from a Middle States Policy Perspective)

Have An Assessment Plan

Guiding Documents

1. Middle States Framework for Outcomes Assessment (1996)

(The Most Comprehensive Middle States Document on Assessment)

"The ultimate goal of outcomes assessment is to examine & enhance an institution's effectiveness. Four objectives must be met in order to reach this goal. They are to improve teaching and learning, to contribute to the personal development of students, to ensure institutional improvement, and to facilitate accountability. The challenge for colleges & universities is to develop an assessment plan that achieves a balance among these various objectives in reaching the ultimate goal."

"The ideal assessment process emerges from a partnership between the administration and the faculty, resulting in a formal assessment plan."

2. Middle States Characteristics of Excellence

"The ultimate goal of outcomes assessment is the improvement of teaching and learning."

"Institutions should develop guidelines and procedures for assessing their overall effectiveness as well as student learning outcomes."

"The plan for the assessment of outcomes should attempt to determine the extent and quality of student learning. The basic process begins with a thorough review of the institution's programs, curricula, courses, and other instructional activities. The assessments should include frequent appraisals of the academic progress and goal achievement of students, of the progress of graduates, and of alumni opinions. In addition to assessing academic achievement, institutions should seek ways to assess the degree to which students' attitudes, social and ethical values, interests, and commitment to scholarship and lifelong learning develop as a result of their education."