Using External Accountability Mandates to Create Internal Change

In light of a new state-mandated performance-based funding mechanism for community colleges in California, this article discusses how one district sought to implement new internal evaluation procedures to improve student outcomes in line with systemwide goals outlined in the performance-based fundin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPlanning for higher education Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 44 - 50
Main Authors Petrides, Lisa A, McClelland, Sara I, Nodine, Thad R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Society for College and University Planning 2004
Subjects
Academic Persistence
Accountability
California
College Outcomes Assessment
Community Colleges
Educational Change
Educational Environment
Employee Attitudes
Higher Education
Institutional Research
Internal Evaluation
Organizational Effectiveness
Outcomes of Education
Performance Based Assessment
Resistance to Change
Self Evaluation (Groups)
State Aid
California
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Summary:In light of a new state-mandated performance-based funding mechanism for community colleges in California, this article discusses how one district sought to implement new internal evaluation procedures to improve student outcomes in line with systemwide goals outlined in the performance-based funding. These efforts introduced an evaluative environment on campus that reinforced self-serving behaviors among individuals--not an uncommon reaction to perceived external threats to capability and competence. This research concludes that in a climate of external accountability and performance mandates, an institution's ability to understand and mitigate the need for individuals to take on protective or defensive behaviors in response to external demands for accountability becomes increasingly important in helping the organization to substantially improve its ability to use data and information to bring about positive change. (Contains 1 figure.)
ISSN:0736-0983