NCA requires that all member institutions employ student outcomes assessment measures in general education and in all undergraduate and graduate majors. Successful assessment emerges from a conceptual framework. Successful assessment is marked by faculty ownership and responsibility. Successful assessment has institution-wide support. Successful assessment relies on multiple measures.
Successful assessment provides feedback to students and the institution.
Successful assessment is cost-effective. Successful assessment does not restrict or inhibit goals of access, equity, and diversity established by the institution. Successful assessment leads to improvement. Successful assessment includes a process for evaluating the assessment program. NCA recognizes that faculty determination of the crucial issues of each academic program is essential and that student outcomes assessment planning is most effectively devised by faculty and staff at the departmental level.