In the minds of most people, the best colleges are those that are the most selective. The purpose of this document is to discover if students at more selective institutions have or take greater advantage of learning opportunities. Two independent datasets were used to research this idea. The first is the National Study of Student Learning (NSSL),…

The age of student dissent has left its mark on higher education by improving the quality of educational institutions. (HS)

After a brief discussion about the evolution and status of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), summarizes some of what has been learned so far about the engagement patterns of different groups of students and some of the questions and challenges the NSSE results raise. (EV)

Describes the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which annually assesses the extent to which students at four-year colleges and universities are participating in educational practices strongly associated with high levels of learning and personal development. Rather than focusing on the institution's resources, the basis of most school…

Assuring the quality of higher education in America was once a straightforward, if tedious, proposition. Audit an institution's fiscal condition, check faculty credentials, make sure that the administration isn't riding roughshod over academic freedom, see whether or not the curriculum as expressed in the catalogue is reasonably coherent, browse…

Explores why, as the higher education community shifts its focus from "access" to "access to what?," new maps--language and conceptions--are needed to help institutional leaders and policymakers update what is known about institutional structures and practices. (EV)

Contends that the resources/reputation approach, which uses proxy variables to measure university quality, and the alumni outcomes approach, which may simply reflect institutional recruitment practices, are fundamentally flawed. Maintains that the effective educational practices approach is a major step forward; suggests that a combination of the…

Explores how U.S. higher education's number one position over the last century is threatened as institutions struggle to deal with rising expectations from students and employers, which are producing chronic fiscal problems feared to be eroding the quality of teaching and research. (EV)

Reflects on fundamental questions concerning accountability in higher education: "Toward what end?"; "What data and criteria are relevant?"; "Who is responsible for what and to whom?"; and "Through what means?"; Discusses the characteristics of an effective accountability system. (EV)

As well-intentioned reformers turn up the volume on their calls for assessment-based accountability in higher education, warns policymakers and academicians that going forward without clearly defining what they want to measure may result in assessing the wrong things. Describes a framework to guide policy on assessing student learning. (EV)

Describes a new form of academic quality assurance, the academic audit. Reviews use of academic audits abroad and experimental use of such audits in the United States. Identifies issues in academic audits, including focus of audits, auditor selection and training, institutional preparation for an audit, interaction between institutional policies…

Maximizing each student's potential will force higher education into a new approach to learning. (PG)

Just a few years ago, almost no one saw accreditation as a major force for change in higher education. It was generally regarded as something of an anachronism, a ritual institutions had to go through periodically just to stay legit. But accreditation is back. Anyone who doesn't think so should try Googling "accreditation": even with…

This review draws on William Massy's recent book--"Honoring the Trust: Quality and Cost Containment in Higher Education" (Anker Publishing, 2003)--to establish the case for change and to suggest some of the tools to better manage institutions. Also included are two disparate resources to help reach that goal--resources that are used by…

George Keller's criticism of the state of higher education research is discussed. An alternative model of the relationship between research and policy, some valuable contributions of higher education research, and steps for improving the quality and impact of that research are described. (MLW)