Higher Learning Commission comments on assessment

After looking through some of my notes from a previous HLC/NCA convention I found a section on "Student Learning, Assessment, and Accreditation", dated March 2007. Listed as a draft, however, it is now integrated into the Commission Handbook and the Peer Reviewer manual.I found it fitting because we are discussing the topic. Of the greatest note was a comment in the handout stating "effective assessment is best understood as a strategy for understanding, confirming, and improving student learning". There are six fundamental questions for conversations on student learning listed. Of the six, the most notable, at least for me, is "How do you ensure shared responsibility for student learning and for assessment of student learning?" This truly is, in my opinion, the million dollar question. Ensuring shared responsibility is difficult. Through the chain of command, administration to faculty to support services, the missions (goals) are the focus. Demonstrating this is a challenge. Each of the criterion groups with their sub-groups should address this question. If it is answered succinctly, the accreditation process should go through smoothly. I will end quoting the statement found at the end of the first section: "organizations assess student learning in meaningful, useful, and workable ways to evaluate how they are achieving their commitments and to act on the results in ways that advance student learning and improve educational quality. Effective assessment of student learning is a matter of commitment, not a matter of compliance".Commitment not compliance, very true for those of us who consider themselves educators.