ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies transparency as the open sharing of the processes, practices, and results of measurement in higher education. Quality can be assured through the independent review of transparently provided data or its presence can be implied by the mere act of sharing information. Many find that the voluntary accountability systems result in a watering down of data because they share only those pieces of information that have been carefully sifted through and presented in a way to portray institutions as successful. The various transparency and quality assurance initiatives have contributed to ripples of change that are making accountability better understood and useful within the higher education community. Those currently involved in the administration of higher education feel pressure from all sides, the federal government, accreditors, students, to produce more meaningful data that can improve practice and thereby theoretically improve graduation and success rates.
