====== Standard 2 ======
====== Mission Goals and Objectives ======
The institution demonstrates that it is accomplishing and can continue to accomplish its mission, goals and program objectives and improve performance through a regular, comprehensive, and sustainable system of assessment and planning. Central to this plan is the systematic and specific assessment of student learning and development through a strategy that measures the student’s knowledge, skills and competencies against institutional and programmatic goals.
====== 2a. Assessment of Student Learning and Planning ======
==== Essential Elements ====
Relative to this standard, an accredited institution is characterized by...
  -The identification of appropriate integrated student outcomes in the context of institutional goals, program-specific objectives and course objectives.
  -A shared commitment on the part of students, faculty, staff, administration, and governing board to achieve these stated outcomes.
  -A written plan of ongoing outcomes assessment that articulates multiple means to validate expected learning outcomes and that is subjected to a periodic review process.
  -Criteria appropriate to the higher education credential to be awarded for evaluating success with respect to student achievement and to the level of education.
  -Validation, as a result of using the outcomes assessment plan, that students are achieving the stated outcomes relative to institutional goals, program-specific objectives and course objectives.
  -A process whereby these outcome measurements lead to the improvement of teaching and learning.
  -The ongoing provision of reliable information to the public regarding student achievement,including graduation and employment rates.

====== 2b. Assessment of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning ======
==== Essential Elements ====
Relative to this standard, an accredited institution is characterized by...
  -A written comprehensive assessment document that describes how the institution measures its effectiveness in an ongoing and structured way. 
  -Meaningful analysis of assessment data and use of results by appropriate constituencies for the purpose of improvement. 
  -Substantial documentation issuing from its assessment processes that the institution is effective in fulfilling its mission and achieving its goals and objectives. 
  -A planning process that is comprehensive, involves representatives of the various institutional constituencies, and is subject to a periodic review process. 
  -A plan that reflects the institution’s mission, is based on assessment results, and is aligned with realistic resources projections. 
  -A system for monitoring institutional progress in achieving planning goals. 
  -The ongoing provision of reliable information to the public regarding its performance.