Institutional Effectiveness: Practice or Theory. AIR 1998 Annual Forum Paper.

This paper reviews the history, the concept, the process, and several models of institutional effectiveness, focusing particularly on those using the Criteria for Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). It defines institutional effectiveness as an ongoing process that includes strategic planning, mission, goals, objectives, assessment, evaluation, and revision, with a framework that rests on clearly defined purpose, educational goals consistent with the institution's purpose, its development and implementation of procedures for evaluating these goals, and its use of the evaluation to improve educational goals. The paper reviews various models of the strategic planning process, assessment, and evaluation, including program review and student outcomes. Also discussed is a survey of Texas higher education conducted in spring 1997 to gather information on the status of the institutional effectiveness process at the various institutions. Most of the responding institutions indicated adoption of at least some of the SACS guidelines. The study also found increasing progress in the establishment of institutional research offices. (Contains 24 references.) (CH)