Meet calls for increased quality and understand accreditation expectations Author Linda Suskie is internationally recognized for her work in higher education assessment, and she is a former vice president of a major regional accreditor. In Five Dimensions of Quality: A Common Sense Guide to Accreditation and Accountability in Higher Education she provides a simple, straightforward model for understanding and meeting the calls for increased quality in higher education ever-present in today's culture. Whether your institution is seeking accreditation or not, the five dimensions she outlines will help you to identify ways to improve institutional quality and demonstrate that quality to constituents. For those wading through the accreditation process, which has become more difficult in recent years due to increasing regulation and pressure for greater accountability, Suskie offers expert guidance on understanding the underlying principles of the expectations of accrediting bodies. Using the model presented here, which is much easier to understand than the sometimes complex resources provided by individual accrediting bodies, American colleges and universities can understand what they need to do to earn and maintain their regional accreditation as well as improve overall institutional quality for their students. You'll be able to: Identify ways to improve institutional quality Demonstrate the quality of your institution to internal and external constituents Avoid wasting time and energy on misguided institutional processes to comply with accreditation requirements By focusing on why colleges and universities should take particular actions rather than only on what those actions should be, Five Dimensions of Quality gives them the knowledge and strategies to prepare for a successful review. It is an ideal resource for leaders, accreditation committee members, and everyone on campus.

Meet calls for increased quality and understand accreditationexpectationsAuthor Linda Suskie is internationally recognized for her workin higher education assessment, and she is a former vice presidentof a major regional accreditor. In Five Dimensions of Quality: ACommon Sense Guide to Accreditation and Accountability in HigherEducation she provides a simple, straightforward model forunderstanding and meeting the calls for increased quality in highereducation ever-present in today's culture. Whether your institutionis seeking accreditation or not, the five dimensions she outlineswill help you to identify ways to improve institutional quality anddemonstrate that quality to constituents.For those wading through the accreditation process, which hasbecome more difficult in recent years due to increasing regulationand pressure for greater accountability, Suskie offers expertguidance on understanding the underlying principles of theexpectations of accrediting bodies. Using the model presented herewhich is much easier to understand than the sometimes complexresources provided by individual accrediting bodies, Americancolleges and universities can understand what they need to do toearn and maintain their regional accreditation as well as improveoverall institutional quality for their students. You'll be ableto:* Identify ways to improve institutional quality* Demonstrate the quality of your institution to internal andexternal constituents* Avoid wasting time and energy on misguided institutionalprocesses to comply with accreditation requirementsBy focusing on why colleges and universities should takeparticular actions rather than only on what those actions shouldbe, Five Dimensions of Quality gives them the knowledge andstrategies to prepare for a successful review. It is an idealresource for leaders, accreditation committee members, and everyoneon campus.

List of Tables and Exhibits ixList of Jargon Alerts xiList of Acronyms xvForeword xixPreface xxvAcknowledgments xxxiAbout the Author xxxiiiIntroduction: Today's Quality Context 11. Why Is American Higher Education Under Fire? 32. Understanding American Accreditation 113. Quality: Committing to Excellence 254. Why Is This So Hard? 35Dimension I: A Culture of Relevance 495. Integrity: Doing the Right Thing 516. Stewardship: Ensuring and Deploying Resources Responsibly 59Dimension II: A Culture of Community 757. A Community of People 778. Leadership Capacity and Commitment 89Dimension III: A Culture of Focus and Aspiration 979. Purpose: Who Are You? Why Do You Exist? 9910. Goals and Plans: Where Are You Going? How Will You Get There? 10711. Who Is a Successful Student? 11912. Helping Students Learn and Succeed 129Dimension IV: A Culture of Evidence 14513. Gauging Success 14714. Good Evidence Is Useful 16115. Setting and Justifying Targets for Success 16716. Transparency: Sharing Evidence Clearly and Readily 177Dimension V: A Culture of Betterment 18917. Using Evidence to Ensure and Advance Quality and Effectiveness 19118. Sustaining a Culture of Betterment 197Conclusion: Integrating and Advancing the Five Dimensions of Quality 20919. Demonstrating Quality to Accreditors 21120. Program Reviews: Drilling Down into Programs and Services 22921. Where Do We Go from Here? A Six-Point Agenda for Ensuring and Advancing Quality 239References 249Index 265