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What is assessment? How do you define it? The AAHE Assessment Forum is often asked to provide a brief
answer. We have compiled a list of resources that suggest the variety of responses possible for these
questions.
Other Definitions
"I shall consider assessment to include the gathering of information concerning the functioning of
students, staff, and institutions of higher education. The information may or may not be in
numerical form, but the basic motive for gathering it is to improve the functioning of the
institution and its people. I used functioning to refere to the broad social purposes of a college or
university: to facilitate student learning and development, to advance the frontiers of knowledge,
and to contribute to the commuhnitiy, and the society" (Alexander Astin, Assessment for
Excellence, Oryx Press, 1993, p.2)
"Assessment is defined as the systematic basis for making inferences about the learning and
development of students. More specifically, assessment is the process of defining, selecting,
designing, collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and using information to increase students' learning
and development" (T. Dary Erwin, Assessing Student Learning and Development, Jossey-Bass,
1991, see pp.14-19).
Institutional Definitions
California State University Chico's Guidelines for Assessment includes an institutional definition as
well as one provided by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
"Assessment at Eastern New Mexico University has grown to include measures of academic
achievement within students' major fields, students' values and attitudes, and students'
satisfaction with the institution." (From ASSESS-L listserv, June 1997)
"Assessment is data collection and analysis for program planning and accountability. Student
academic achievement is the assessed result of measurement in major departments and in
general education for the College and University as a whole." (College of St. Benedict/St. John's
University, Collegeville, MN; From ASSESS-L listserv, June 1997)
"Accountability: Reporting to the public on educational process to show trends within and
relationships among school data (e.g., institutions are held accountable for the use of public
funds, institutions must demonstrate that they are efficient and effective in serving the needs of
the state). Summative, used for making decisions about resources, people, institutions.
Assessment: The evaluation and improvement of some aspect of the institution. Assessment may
concern the performance of individuals, effectiveness of institutional practices, and/or the
functioning of departments or programs (e.g., program reviews, budget reviews, etc.). Formative,
used for institutional self-study, financial retrenchment, program evaluation, better understanding
of current students.