1) planning: deciding what is to be accomplished, developing the strategies to be used, determining how outcomes will be measured and how success will be defined;

2) resource allocation;

3) program implementation: carrying out the strategies;

4) evaluation: assessment of outcomes;

5) use of assessment feedback for program improvement in a new planning phase and thus then the cycle comes full circle with revision of plans. If the assessment information is used to improve programs, then the cycle becomes a spiral-a continuous improvement spiral. Once this spiral is initiated, the implementation at all levels will lead to a continuous spiral of improvement of both educational and administrative programs throughout the university. If implementation of these steps is tailored to the needs of the particular unit or department and is used by the faculty or staff of that unit to discover how well the unit is achieving its objectives through its teaching or other work, faculty or staff can make modifications in that work to enhance the unit's productivity.