ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the literature on the interaction between this culture of assessment and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), looks at MSIs’ return on investment (ROI) and their internal use of assessments, and concludes with research on MSIs’ relationships with accrediting agencies. Failure to differentiate the unique and important role MSIs play, and the contexts in which they operate, makes attempts at assessment and accountability more susceptible to further marginalizing these institutions, many of which are already under-resourced. One of the most powerful external forces of accountability in higher education is accrediting agencies, which are intended to monitor the academic, administrative, and financial health of postsecondary institutions. Given the shortcomings of commonly used metrics in assessing the value of MSIs, interest in their impact has led to research that examines their ROI from various vantage points. National surveys have shed light on trends in how MSIs use assessments.
