Quality, but by Whose Standards?

Quality assurance for higher education institutions, programs, faculty, and teaching and learning experiences is a front-burner issue in a time of scarce public resources, increasing student demand, new forms of institutions, changing conceptions of teaching and learning, and technological innovation. State governments, the federal government, regional accrediting agencies, professional associations, and institutions of higher education are all involved in defining expectations for and evaluation of quality, and the stakes are enormous.

This panel will examine key emerging issues of defining and assessing quality in higher education from multiple perspectives. Mike Offerman brings the experience of both the public and for-profit institution addressing regional and program accreditation quality standards and expectations, and will outline the challenges these present for institutions. Steve Crow will elaborate on the philosophical and strategic directions being taken in institutional accreditation and public quality assurance, and John Bourne will outline the perspective of a foundation whose mission has been in part to broaden the definition of quality to include effective and efficient uses of emerging electronic technologies.

We will conclude the session by reviewing themes that emerge from our conversation, and with a dynamic discussion involving conference participants.