Project Cooperation: A Survey on Using Student Outcomes Measures To Assess Institutional Effectiveness. Final Report: 1988 Survey of AACJC Institutions.

In 1988, a survey was conducted of member institutions of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC). The survey was designed to study and advance the use of student outcomes measures for assessing institutional ffectiveness in two-year institutions. Three sets of student outcomes were identified for in-depth study: academic progress and employment outcomes, student learning outcomes, and student satisfaction outcomes. Responses were received from 675 institutions, representing approximately 54% of the total AACJC membership. Major findings of the survey were as follows: (1) 61% of the colleges used academic progress and employment outcomes measures to assess institutional effectiveness, and 66% of the colleges gave higher or far higher priority to these outcomes than to other types of student outcomes; (2) only 35% of the colleges measured student learning skills outcomes and used them for assessing institutional effectiveness; (3) skills assessment at entry was more common than exit-only assessment or entry-exit comparisons; (4) 55% of the institutions used student satisfaction to assess institutional effectiveness; (5) about 75% used measures of academic progress and employment outcomes in the accreditation process; (6) curriculum development was most often cited as the activity most affected by the use of outcomes measures; (7) respondents expected the priority associated with the use of student outcomes to increase within the next 3 to 5 years; and (8) enrollment size, accreditation affiliation, and geographical setting were not significantly related to the use of outcomes measures. The survey instrument with percentage responses is included. (JMC)