Transitions in the social and economic circumstances of Western postsecondary education are: changing numbers of students and jobs; the shift from elite values to educational goals that promote equality; the growing significance of the school government relationship; and stability rather than expansion. (JMD)

Issues suggested by John Sizer's paper, an overview of the assessment of institutional performance, include: the efficient-frontier approach, multiple-criterion decision-making models, performance analysis approached as path analysis, and assessment of academic quality. (JMD)

Two experiences with academic program review illustrating different approaches are described: (1) the recent assessment of research-doctorate programs, conducted by a consortium of four national academic organizations, and (2) the experience of the University of California. (MSE)