Helping Students Learn identifies the shared purpose of all higher education organizations, and is accordingly the pivot of any institutional analysis. This component focuses on the teaching-learning process within a formal instructional context, yet also addresses how your entire institution contributes to helping students learn and overall student development. It examines your institution's processes and systems related to:

• Learning objectives
• Mission-driven student learning and development
• Intellectual climate
• Academic programs and courses
• Student Preparation
• Key issues such as technology and diversity
• Program and course delivery
• Faculty and staff roles
• Teaching and learning effectiveness
• Course sequencing and scheduling
• Learning and co-curricular support
• Student assessment
• Measures
• Analysis of results
• Improvement efforts