Value added
Impressive assessed outcomes at the end of a curriculum or course cannot necessarily be attributed to the effects of these experiences. Pre-program student input characteristics must first be removed from student characteristics at program's end before the value added to students by the program can be determined. Moreover, there are other potential causative variables such as students' natural biological maturation and off-campus experiences that need to be considered when interpreting the results of outcome assessment. In the end, what counts is whether the program itself makes a difference and what and how much of a difference that is.