A model for curricular quality assessment and improvement.

The article describes a systematic assessment model and its potential application to a college's ongoing curricular assessment activities. Each component of the continuous quality improvement model is discussed, including (1) the definition of a competent practitioner, (2) development of the core curricular competencies and course objectives, (3) students' baseline characteristics and educational attainment, (4) implementation of the curriculum, (5) data collection about the students' actual performance on the curriculum, and (6) reassessment of the model and curricular outcomes. Over time, faculty members involved in curricular assessment should routinely reassess the rationale for selecting outcomes; continually explore reliable and valid methods of assessing whether students have reached their learning goals; get legitimate support for assessment activities from faculty members and administration; routinely review curricular content related to attitudinal, behavioral, and knowledge-learning outcomes; and determine what to do with the collected assessment data.