From the Foreword: The challenge of the next decade will be not just to take stock of student learning, but to get better at generating it, intentionally, systematically, and continuously. The chapters in this volume are designed to remind that the management of assessment is much like the management of anything else. What is needed is an explicit plan, consistent with the institution's mission and values, that documents in sufficient detail what needs to be done and who is to do it.... -- Peter T. Ewell, vice president, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) Because Higher Education Assessments is aimed at leaders, the book fills a critical need and void. A number of points drive the power of the book: a connection to the mission and a well-defined broad spectrum of diversity that success should result in more support for what works and that a systems approach allows institutions to think about rewarding successful programs with additional resources. -- Catherine Andersen, associate provost, Gallaudet University The message of the book frames the assessment vehicle for better education, for better learning, for better program design. -- Andrew T. Phillips, academic dean and provost, United States Naval Academy If anyone were to ask me who needs another book on assessment? I would answer, we do! Presidents, provosts, and members of the senior leadership team whose task is not how to do assessment but how assessment should be done with purpose. That purpose is to align all that we do so that in the end we will fulfill the fundamental purposes of our institutions. The book is a winner! -- Earl H. Potter, president, St. Cloud State University I can comfortably say I am impressed by the energy, thinking and empirical work that has evolved and is described in this book regarding the partnership in the learning enterprisethe emergence of the novel idea of putting students first in assessmentswhat an important concept. -- Joseph Crowley, president emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno From the Foreword:
The challenge of the next decade will be not just to take stock of student learning, but to get better at generating it, intentionally, systematically, and continuously. The chapters in this volume are designed to remind that the management of assessment is much like the management of anything else. What is needed is an explicit plan, consistent with the institution's mission and values, that documents in sufficient detail what needs to be done and who is to do it. -- Peter T. Ewell, vice president, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) The book will serve as a tool for leaders to determine which areas of assessment matter most at their institutions and how they can measure progress. * Presidency * Higher Education Assessments: Leadership Matters has value for broad college and university audiences. Its primary draw will be among higher education leaders who need to familiarize themselves with critical questions of assessment and accountability. Campus leadership teams and assessment professionals will benefit from reading the book together as engaged team development. Although written for top-level leaders, the book is equally suitable for deans or department heads who aspire to attain high-level posts and should be of interest to anyone concerned with assessment in higher education. * The Review of Higher Education *
