Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
This invitation-only workshop will help your institution prepare for your upcoming accreditation review starting with the Institutional Proposal. Past participants have told us that this workshop effectively jump-started their planning and was critical to forging a team that took collective leadership for the review.
The Nominating Committee of the Senior Commission is currently accepting nominations for election to the Accrediting Commission. Two vacancies will be available for senior-level faculty or administrators from institutions in the WASC region, and one vacancy will be available for a public member. For more information, see Commission Elections. Please note that nominations may only be made by CEOs of WASC accredited institutions, and will be accepted until January 7, 2009.
Starting in fall 2008, several new and revised forms relating to visits were implemented.
Please review the following list to ascertain which of these applies to your upcoming spring 2009 visit.
WASC is pleased to announce a new workshop designed for trustees and presidents of small to medium-sized institutions. Its purpose is to explore best practices in institutional governance, clarify trustee roles and responsibilities, and improve board-president relations. We will also discuss the growing role of trustees in quality assurance and accountability, as well as strategies for successfully navigating challenging times.
For more information, please see Trustee Workshops
On Oct. 2, 2008, Ralph Wolff testified on behalf of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of WASC, at the Department of Education hearing on the new Higher Education Act, held at Pepperdine University. The full text of his testimony is available in the "President's Corner" section of this website.
SB 823, the bill that would have created a new regulatory agency to replace the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE), was vetoed by the governor on Sept. 30. The issue will come before the legislature again in the new term, and we will keep you informed as the discussion progresses.
We hope that you are having a good summer! It is proving to be a busy one here in the WASC office, as we prepare for a full season of visits in the fall.
Starting in fall 2008, several new and revised forms relating to visits are being implemented.
WASC works continuously to improve its support for institutions and teams, by developing tools that are useful in the accreditation process. We hope that you will find these new tools to be of great value during your visits this fall.
The Commission approved a final budget for 2008-09 that included a major investment in a technology review. In addition to a new website, Commission staff will be undertaking a major review of how technology can better serve institutions and teams, and how internal processes can be streamlined. A copy of the 2008-09 budget is available on the WASC website, www.wascsenior.org.
WASC is pleased to welcome Michael Jackson, Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Southern California, as the newest member of the Accrediting Commission. Dr. Jackson was previously dean of students at Stanford University and has over twenty years of experience in the field of student affairs. He will serve a three-year term on the Commission, from July 2008 - June 2011.