Author(s): Baldrige National Quality Program

Institutional affiliation/Agency/Program: National Institute of Standards and Technology

Publication date or date of most recent update: December 2006

Number of pages: N/A

Website URL: http://www.quality.nist.gov/Education_Criteria.htm

Type of product (lesson plans, curriculum, training product): administrative guide/strategy

Subject of materials: specific criteria for use in measuring performance, as part of a larger system of program management

Target population: Administrators, members of P. I. team

Skill levels of instructional materials (lessons, curricula): N/A

Training required: Yes - AE staff who plan to use the Baldrige approach should be trained by certified Baldrige experts (examples include AE supervisors being trained in TN)

Abstract: The Baldrige National Quality Program includes Criteria for Performance Excellence in Business, Health Care and Education. For related information on the history of the Baldrige System, as well as the process and accompanying tools, go to http://www.nist.gov/ebaldrige

What the experts say: The value of this resource lies in providing the adult education field with a taste of what the Baldrige phenomenon is about including a description of the seven criteria for educational excellence and a detailed assessment tool for program evaluation. One of the benefits of this resource, as stated by the authors, is to create a common language and framework for the business and education sectors to foster cross-sector cooperation and the sharing of best practices. Since this is a complex procedure and one that requires a possibly unfamiliar role for program leaders, targeted training or coaching from a more experienced colleague would be advisable.