Most student assessment in higher education is undertaken with little or no consultation with students. To become effective, independent, autonomous learners, students must be enabled to understand assessment criteria and expected levels of attainment, and be empowered through meaningful feedback that relates to assessment criteria and improvement…

Reviews lessons learned from experience with computer-aided learning that can inform the use of computers in student assessment in college teaching, describes the experience of two institutions with computer-assisted student assessment, and makes recommendations for developing and implementing effective institution-wide systems. (Author/MSE)

Presents a model of quality assurance for colleges and universities, distilled from key concepts in the literature about quality assurance and higher education culture and practice. The model has continuous quality improvement in student learning at its center, and includes elements of institutional values, faculty evaluation and development,…

The Nominal Group Technique, in which groups of students jointly evaluate a course, is proposed as an alternative to individual course evaluation questionnaires for student assessment of college teacher performance. Evaluation of a new course by three cohorts of students using the technique is reported. Strengths and weaknesses emerging in the…

Strategies for promoting efficient control of quality in colleges and universities are examined. It is proposed that integration of external review and institutional self-evaluation can be used to support the goals of accountability, efficiency, and institutional effectiveness. (MSE)

Two procedures for systematic organizational quality assessment are presented: (1) a distributional assessment to monitor individual, group, or unit performance by establishing real and maximum-feasibility parameters; and (2) a cost-assessment system based on utility analysis, to assign dollar values and benefits to quality interventions targeting…

A Victoria University of Technology (Australia) project designed to harness the interdisciplinary and collegial culture of the institution to implement Total Quality Management principles is reported. The successful project stressed the value of culture binding through transformative processes in quality improvement. (Author/MSE)

Performance measures are discussed for assessing organizational effectiveness in nonprofit organizations including institutions of higher education. With hundreds of possible measures, ratios, and data available, the nonprofit manager must select measures that portray the institution's condition and performance. A process and rationale for…

The use of taxonomies of types and levels of learning for student assessment in higher education is discussed. Five taxonomies designed for a variety of instructional areas are described. The reasons for their use are examined from four points of view: pedagogical, professional, quality assurance, and management. (MSE)

A British university's experience has shown that, with appropriate software and management methods, most of the practical problems in using student questionnaires to evaluate courses can be overcome. (MSE)

It is suggested that external examiners play a significant role in establishing and maintaining the quality of courses and that greater openness and agreed-upon standards would improve both assessment and learning. Specific suggestions are provided. (MSE)

Possible indicators for use in monitoring individual and departmental performance in teaching and research are explored. It is proposed that a sensitive but economical system of performance indicators could ensure that the professional development of faculty and departmental and institutional planning could proceed more realistically and…

A self-evaluation system for college faculty time analysis is described and the forms used for record-keeping are presented. The system permits: documentation of types and amounts of services made available; accuracy of accounting; ease in federal grant auditing; development of job descriptions for prospective employees; and personal time…

This article describes the composite thinking and support underpinning the evaluations of initiatives funded by Enterprise Awareness in Teacher Education, a British teacher education program component in which graduates are placed in industrial, commercial, and community contexts to learn about enterprise. Focus is on issues to be addressed before…

A framework for improving student and course evaluation in higher education is presented. The framework is based on a simple quality control model. Suggestions for support mechanisms and resources for improving practice are also offered. (MSE)