The role of the federal government in assessing and improving postsecondary educational programs are considered in hearings of the United States Senate. Testimony of Secretary of Education William Bennett discusses: the decline in quality of undergraduate education, areas of concern in vocational and professional education, the importance of assessment, state and federal government responsibilities for quality improvement, and accreditation standards. A particular concern is the system of relying on private accreditation as a major indicator of eligibility for federal financial assistance of many kinds. The Secretary also provides information on 32 colleges and universities that have honor codes. Testimony by James T. Rogers of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting group for the southern states, identifies new criteria for institutions to evaluate their effectiveness, and discusses the importance of outcomes assessment as part of the institutions' planning process. Testimony by C. Donald Sweeney of the National Association of State Approving Agencies addresses the dimension of quality assessment known as academic progress standards and considers a mechanism for quality assessment. Questions from Senators are directed to the witnesses. (SW)