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On their own, student learning and development outcomes assessment data have limited utility for improving programming. We believe outcomes data should not be collected until two fundamental questions can be answered: "Why should this programming result in the desired outcome?" (i.e., program theory) and "Was the intended programming actually experienced by students?" (i.e., implementation fidelity). Some assessment professionals may find this proclamation radical. Our call is fueled by the creation of unjustified programming and curriculum, coupled with the collection of outcomes data that are not used for improvement efforts. We contend that it is only after program theory is articulated that faculty and student affairs professionals can collect relevant, useful outcomes data. Moreover, valid inferences from outcomes data are contingent on knowing what programming students experienced. This "expanded" assessment practice has potential to afford better-designed, more impactful, research-informed programming to students. As our students have opportunities to engage in well-implemented, should-be-effective programming, their learning should demonstrably improve. Thus, we call for professional standards and professionals themselves to integrate program theory and implementation fidelity into outcomes assessment practice.

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert