'Collective Action' on Assessing Learning

Inside Higher Ed reports that college presidents are launching a new initiative on promising practices for measuring and improving student outcomes, and publicizing results in a new database -- demonstrating a renewed commitment to focus on student success. And they're even asking student to commit to being involved!

The Presidents' Alliance is an offshoot of the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability, a year-old organization made up of higher education association leaders, accreditors and others who believe American colleges should voluntarily adopt evidence-based approaches to improving student learning -- both to bolster public confidence in higher education and because the institutions have a professional responsibility to prepare students for careers and life.