DEFINING THE DISCIPLINE: OUTCOME ASSESSMENT AND THE PROSPECTS FOR COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS.

The article presents a discussion related to the outcome assessment and the prospects for communication programs in the U.S. Assessment is an appraisal of the value of the student's educational experience. As a result, assessment is student-centered, learning-measured, and accomplishment-focused. Assessment reverses the usual evaluation model. Instead of the student's test results being a reflection of the student's ability, the results are used to reflect on the program's ability to educate. The particular uses made of assessment results depend on the motivation of interested constituents. For faculty, assessment has meant a means of determining the effectiveness of their teaching. For academic administrators I assessment has been a verification of the program's mission. For legislators, assessment has been a means of establishing accountability for the funds spent on education. For accreditation councils, assessment has verified that an institution's degree means something happened while the student was in college.