"WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT" - PROMOTING AN INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE OF ASSESSMENT

This paper is the first of two that will explore the application of principles of organizational change theory to the problem of achieving valid and sustainable assessment processes in a private university. In particular, it addresses the coordination of the assessment of the general education core with the assessment needs of several externally accredited professional programs at a medium-size Master's comprehensive university. In this first paper, the authors present the background, theoretical framework, and the plan for design, implementation, and assessment of this work in progress. The second paper, to be written after the project is completed, will report on effectiveness of the core curriculum assessment process, as it pertains to both regional accreditation and ABET accreditation of the institution's engineering programs. It is anticipated that presenting this paper will generate feedback that will assist in sharpening the focus of the inquiry described here.