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This comprehensive volume clarifies the historical, technical, and philosophical details present in the various quality assurance theories and policy systems of the American higher education system. The authors, E. Grady Bogue and Kimberely Bingham Hall, examine the theories of quality, including goal achievement, outcomes, value-added impacts, and reputation. They trace the philosophical heritage and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of quality assurance policy systems such as accreditation, rankings and ratings, outcomes, licensure, program reviews, follow-up studies, and total quality management. They also recommend a set of policy principles for improving their integration and effectiveness.
Besides offering the details of policy systems for defining, developing, and demonstrating quality, this work also delves into the moral and ethical issues inherent in quality measures of higher education institutions. Bogue and Hall assert that quality cannot exist without integrity in personnel, policies, and programs. Political and academic officers must work together more closely in order to design appropriate collegiate accountability systems. Administrators, professors, and government leaders would all benefit from this thorough analysis of past and present quality assurance programs and the subsequent recommendations for future policies.
List of contents
Introduction: Defining Academic Quality
Accreditation: The Test of Mission Achievement
College Rankings and Ratings: The Test of Reputation
Follow-Up Studies: The Test of Client Satisfaction
Licensure: The Test of Professional Standards
Academic Program Reviews and Audits: The Test of Peer Review
College Outcomes: The Test of Results
Total Quality Management: The Test of Continuous Improvement
Performance Indicators and Performance Funding: Systems of Accountability
Beyond Systems: Moral Outrage and Other Servants of Quality
Improvement Versus Stewardship: Reconciling Civic and Collegiate Accountability Cultures
Decision and Discovery: Developing a Strategic Vision of Quality
About the author
E. Grady Bogue is Professor of Higher Education Administration and Policy Studies, University of Tennessee. Bogue was, for 11 years, Chancellor of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, and for one year Interim Chancellor of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He held a number of other high-level academic positions with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and at the University of Memphis. Dr. Bogue has written eight books. Of his latest, one is with Praeger (
Quality and Accountability in Higher Education, 2003), and one with ACE/Oryx (
Exploring the Heritage of American Higher Education, 2000).
Summary
This comprehensive volume clarifies the historical, technical, and philosophical details present in the various quality assurance theories and policy systems of the American higher education system.
