Benchmarking: An Essential Tool for Assessment, Improvement, and Accountability

This volume provides the reader with an increased understanding of benchmarking in the community college sector. It should be of interest to community college faculty and staff engaged in continuous assessment and institutional improvement efforts, as well as university faculty and graduate students studying community college policy and practice. While giving an overview of benchmarking and illustrating its growth within community college assessment, this volume provides four examples of national benchmarking initiatives designed specifically for two-year institutions; describes how the data from those initiatives are being used for assessment, institutional improvement, planning, management, and decision making; and discusses benchmarking's costs, benefits, and limitations. This is the 134th volume of New Directions for Community Colleges, a quarterly journal published by Jossey-Bass. Click here to view the entire list of New Directions for Community Colleges titles.