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Reframing Evaluative Judgment and Value in Inclusive Postsecondary Education: A Value on Investment Perspective
Anthony J Plotner1, Charles B Walters2
1University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
|August 12, 2026
Summary
Value on Investment (VOI) offers a new framework for evaluating inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs. This approach considers student, institution, and societal value, supporting strategic decision-making for program leaders and evaluators.
Area of Science:
- Education Policy
- Program Evaluation
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs for students with disabilities are expanding nationally.
- Existing evaluation guidance for IPSE programs is limited, particularly regarding comprehensive value assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce Value on Investment (VOI) as an evaluative orientation for IPSE programs.
- Provide a framework for leaders and evaluators to redefine and examine the value of IPSE.
- Move beyond traditional outcome-focused or cost-benefit evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Propose a values-based evaluative stance (VOI) for IPSE.
- Define three interrelated dimensions of value: student-centered, institution-centered, and field/community/society-centered.
- Emphasize strategic decision-making as a core function of evaluation.
Main Results:
- VOI shifts focus to how value is defined, prioritized, and interpreted over time.
- Highlights the developmental nature of value identification across diverse stakeholders.
- Aligns evaluation with program maturity, student progress, and institutional change.
Conclusions:
- VOI complements existing evaluation practices by broadening the scope of value assessment.
- Encourages a holistic view of IPSE impact, encompassing institutional capacity and sustainability.
- Supports more strategic and values-driven evaluation of IPSE programs.
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