Performance Accountability Systems for Community Colleges: Lessons for the Voluntary Framework of Accountability for Community CollegesBy: Kevin Dougherty, Rachel Hare & Rebecca Natow — November 2009. New York: Community College Research CenterPolicymakers, higher education associations, blue-ribbon commissions, and researchers are calling for a greater focus on institutional accountability. Thus, the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees, in partnership with the College Board, have launched an effort to develop a Voluntary Framework of Accountability (VFA) for Community Colleges to ensure that the effectiveness and contributions of these colleges are properly measured.
To facilitate the development of the VFA, the College Board commissioned the Community College Research Center (CCRC) to undertake a study that would identify the performance measures that states are already using for their community colleges, explore how well those measures articulate with the data demanded by IPEDS and the regional accrediting associations, and shed light on the experiences of state higher education officials and local community college leaders with the collection and use of state performance data. CCRC researchers therefore conducted a survey of state higher education officials and local community college leaders in 10 states and also reviewed publications by state agencies and national higher education policy organizations. This report discusses the study’s findings and implications. View PDF version
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