As recently as 2010, our department was noted for its inability to operationalize a program of assessment of student learning. Although several faculty members had presented strong and noteworthy proposals, the department as a whole had not implemented any assessment plan. In January 2011, the department was represented at the university’s assessment retreat. At that time, a four-year plan was developed that identifies seven learning outcomes for all Communications majors and has procedures for measuring and evaluating student learning across the core curriculum and all five of the subject concentrations. Extensive supportive policy was developed. Documentation was made available to faculty, identifying the critical need for assessment data to verify what our students know and how they come to know it in our classes. During the 2011-2012 academic year, our department went from having assessment ‘on paper only’ to a fully realized program with collected data that served as a basis from which we can now base future curriculum decisions.