The dimensions of effectiveness pertinent to postsecondary institutions are discussed, along with approaches for assessing effectiveness. A paradigm of effectiveness is presented, based on six concerns: whose perspective is taken; assessment criteria, the referent for judging effectiveness, level and unit of analysis, time frame, and types and sources of data. The effectiveness framework incorporates criteria concerning: goal achievement, managerial functions, organizational climate, and environmental adaptation. Criteria for goal achievement outcomes concern: economics; human characteristics; knowledge, technology, and art form; and resource and service provision. Managerial process criteria concern: planning, organizing, directing, control, and staffing. Organizational climate criteria include the categories of autonomy, structure, reward orientation, educational climate, and socialization and motivation, while environmental adaptation criteria include the categories of efficiency, productivity, and bargaining position. Included is a compendium of measures, which identifies indicators and measures to assess effectiveness for each criteria, which is referenced by codes. A total of 410 indicators are covered. An eight-page bibliography and information on the competing values approach of assessing effectiveness models and criteria are appended. (SW)