Article 7. Higher Education Assessment Act Of 1990 of California Education Code >> Division 5. >> Title 3. >> Part 40. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 7.

The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
  (a) The primary goal of every higher educational institution should be to provide a collegiate experience that gives each student the skills of communication and problemsolving, the ideas and principles underlying the major areas of modern knowledge, the ability to consider critical issues thoughtfully, the understanding that learning is a continuous lifelong process, and the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship.
  (b) To improve performance, educational institutions are encouraged to use effective assessment mechanisms based on positive reinforcement, incentives, and cooperation.

In enacting this article, it is the intent of the Legislature to urge the continued development and implementation of assessment processes whereby institutions of higher education establish mechanisms, through program review and improvement, for the assessment of their performance in attempting to improve student learning and comprehension and achieving the expressed state policy goals for higher education of quality, educational equity, employee diversity, student transfer, and student retention. The primary purposes of assessment shall be to improve teaching and learning as well as academic advising. Assessment programs shall be focused on activities that are campus-based, faculty-centered, and student-responsive. Faculty, students, and academic administrators are encouraged to work together in developing assessment programs.

It is the intent of the Legislature to monitor the performance of the University of California, the California State University, and the community colleges in the following areas:
  (a) Diversification of student bodies.
  (b) Improved student transfer rates.
  (c) Improved student retention rates.
  (d) Diversification of faculty, nonfaculty academic staff, and administrative positions.
  (e) As a part of program review, enhanced student learning, as demonstrated through mechanisms designed to explore improvements in knowledge, skills, and abilities.