Since the purpose of assessment is to enhance student academic, social, and spiritual development, it follows that every academic and administrative unit dealing with students will develop assessment measures to determine what impact these departments and units have on student development. Every department and unit will undergo some type of assessment. For organizational purposes, assessment activity will be divided into four main areas:

• the assessment of student achievement in the academic major
• the assessment of student achievement in the core curriculum
• the assessment of the impact of non-academic and administrative units on student development the counseling center, the Chaplain's Office, the Dean of Students Office, the Registrar's Office, the Business Office, etc.;
• an assessment of alumni(ae) to determine what impact their Hope College education had on them with regard to preparation for graduate and professional school admission, with regard to preparation for entering the job market, to development of leadership skills, to development of a value system, etc.

The assessment program at Hope College will go beyond assessing student academic achievement and will look more broadly at student development.

* * * * *

Assessment, furthermore, must be put in the context of all concurrent evaluation systems faculty, staff, departmental reviews, etc. The assessment program will provide the college one more significant piece in its attempts to demonstrate its effectiveness as an institution.