The Voluntary System of Accountability
 

  • The Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA)

    Clear, accessible, and comparable information
    on the undergraduate student experience.

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    Visit the College Portrait Website!

    Explore over 300 college portraits from public universities across the nation at www.collegeportraits.org .

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    Sign Up for the VSA!

    Simple, straightforward presentation of comparable information directly from public universities at no charge to students and families.Data elements selected based on input from students and families seeking trustworthy data.

College Affordability Estimator

A net price calculator meeting HEOA requirements is now available for VSA institutions through the College Portrait website.

Click here for demo.

Upcoming Webinar -- Friday, Jun 28th, 2:45 p.m. Mountain –- 3:45 p.m. Mountain

NASPA Assesment Conference Session: Keeping Up with Consumer Needs: the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA) Five Years Later

Five years ago, to help public institutions better demonstrate and communicate consumer information and key outcomes, the national presidential associations representing public colleges and universities implemented the College Portrait, a consumer-friendly tool for conveying critical measures of student and institutional success. Learn the latest advancements involving the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA), available to public four-year universities, including: newly expanded student learning outcomes assessment reporting options, adding the AAC&U VALUE Rubrics to the existing standardized options; expanded financial aid information including cost of attendance by family income ranges; new student learning outcomes reporting; a revamped College Affordability Estimator, the VSA's Net Price Calculator, results page matching the federal Shopping Sheet; and Undergraduate Success and Progress Rates for specialized student groups such as veterans or low -income students.

Sign Up Now !

VSA News and Highlights

Inside Higher Ed: Public University Accountability 2.0

 

The Voluntary System of Accountability was born six years ago as a defensive act, seeking to demonstrate to...

More VSA News

The Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA)

The Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA) is an initiative by public 4-year universities to supply clear, accessible,and comparable information on the undergraduate student experience to important constituencies through a common web report – the College Portrait.

The VSA was developed in 2007 by a committed group of university leaders and is sponsored by two higher education associations - the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Development and start-up funding was provided by the Lumina Foundation. Beginning in 2010, the VSA is supported by the participating institutions through annual dues.

Learn more about the VSA

VSA Background & Development

Over 80 higher education leaders from 70 public colleges and universities contributed to the development of the VSA program and data reporting template during 2007.

The initial development and implementation of the VSA was funded by two grants from the Lumina Foundation as well as in kind contributions by participating institutions.

The concept of the VSA was first outlined in a 2006 discussion paper shared broadly among the members of NASULGC (now APLU) and AASCU. The paper and its two subsequent updates formed the basis for discussions among education officials, policy-makers, and academic leaders and ultimately the creation of the VSA.

Background information about the VSA

Accountability Tool for Campuses

The VSA has been leveraged by institutions/systems to meet accountability requirements from governing boards, state legislatures, state coordinating offices, and other outside groups, reducing burden and duplication of effort. Examples include systems in California, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Because it provides evidence of institutional commitment to measurement of student outcomes and institutional improvement for regional accreditation, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation cites the College Portrait® as an important companion to accreditation.

Get clear, accessible, and comparable information on the undergraduate student experience by visiting the College Portrait website.

Visit the College Portrait Website

Sponsored by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities .