A Study Of Accountability In American Higher Education

Higher education accountability is an important means to ensure the quality of American higher education. The external stakeholders of higher education require colleges and universities to explain the utilization of the resources and explain colleges and universities fulfill their responsibilities through the accountability. The accountability for colleges and universities also attempt to prevent excessive intervention of external and to protect the university's autonomy. Internal accountability is one hand of higher education accountability, through internal accountability colleges and universities have a clearer understanding with itselves , and promote learning and the reform of institutions. Higher education accountability not only for the management of higher education, but also have a major impact on the overall development of American higher education. The research on Higher education accountability is of great significance.This thesis is divided into five parts:Chapter one studys the history of accountability in American higher education. Introduces the rise, development and reform of accountability in American higher education in the order of time. Although accountability arised very early, it began to be used to higher education in 1950s and 1969s.In 1970s under the influence of the neo-liberalism accountability become an important management means and method of American higher education.In 1980s accountability in American higher education fouced on the output and outcome of the students rather than the utilization of the resources of colleges and universities,and formed a new accountability system. Chapter two mainly introduces the classification and function of accountability inAmerican higher education.Higher education accountability have four types, external accountability, internal accountability, legal and financial accountability, and academic accountability. Higher education accountability have five functions. First is control abuse of power, prevent the occurrence of corruption, so that the higher education accept the supervision of government; Second is achieve the expectations of the public to ensure the fair and equitable education; Third is ensure the quality of higher education to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of higher education; Fourth is meet the higher education self-survival and development needs; And fifth is promotion higher education self-improvement and reform.Chapter three focus on the internal accountability in American higher education. Introduced the goals of the internal accountability in America higher education.Then analysised the internal accountability from the quality of curriculum and teaching, of the research and academic,of the teachers and students, as well as the quality of colleges and universities. And described the fuction and the implementation of internal accountability from the perspective of the review and assessment.Chapter four uses of case studies study internal accountability in American higher education specifically used the University of California as a case. Start with the introduction of the status quo of the University of California Berkeley, then analysis Berkeley internal accountability from the content and implementation comprehensively.Chapter five analyzes the characteristics of internal accountability in American higher education. Internal accountability and external accountability are different. Internal accountability focused on internal learning, the reform and development of university teaching, and it is implemented within the whole school, all school staff workers and students are involved. And we can not be purely separate internal accountability from external accountability, the internal accountability need the supervision of external accountability, under the supervision of the external accountability to implement the internal accountability will be more effective.