The public desire for accountability of funding for higher education has opened a discussing on assessment methods for documenting student learning. Some advocate a common assessment instrument across all institutions to allow the public to choose the “best” institution of higher education for their child. Others hold the position that a common assessment instrument does not adequately reflect the mission and uniqueness of each institution nor would it serve as a measure of student learning. Authentic assessment is one alternative to every institution using a common assessment instrument. Institutional authentic assessment provides an institution an opportunity to highlight its uniqueness, tailor the assessment to it institutional mission, can be used to impact student learning and offers a form of accountability for the public.