Faculty WASC Information Faculty WASC Information SessionSession

January 18, 2011January 18, 2011

What is WASC?What is WASC?

The Western Association of Schools and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a 501(c)(3) organization, is Colleges (WASC), a 501(c)(3) organization, is recognized as one of six regional associations recognized as one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. colleges, and universities in the United States. 

The Western region covers institutions in The Western region covers institutions in California and Hawaii, and areas of the Pacific California and Hawaii, and areas of the Pacific and East Asia where American/International and East Asia where American/International schools or colleges may apply to it for service.schools or colleges may apply to it for service.

What is WASC Accreditation?What is WASC Accreditation?

Regional Accreditation is a form of Regional Accreditation is a form of institutional institutional accreditation that involves a comprehensive review of all accreditation that involves a comprehensive review of all institutional functions. Regional accrediting organizations institutional functions. Regional accrediting organizations do not accredit individual programs, although new do not accredit individual programs, although new programs are actively reviewed through the substantive programs are actively reviewed through the substantive change process.change process.Voluntary, non-governmental, institutional accreditation, Voluntary, non-governmental, institutional accreditation, as practiced by WASC and other regional commissions, as practiced by WASC and other regional commissions, is a unique characteristic of American education.is a unique characteristic of American education.Accreditation is granted at the completion of a peer Accreditation is granted at the completion of a peer review process, and assures the educational community, review process, and assures the educational community, the general public, and other organizations that an the general public, and other organizations that an accredited institution has met high standards of quality accredited institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness.and effectiveness.

Why are we on Probation?Why are we on Probation?

Probation is a determination that an Probation is a determination that an institution has been found to have serious institution has been found to have serious issues of noncompliance with one or more issues of noncompliance with one or more Commission Standards. Commission Standards.

CDU failed to demonstrate that we are in CDU failed to demonstrate that we are in compliance with each of WASC’s 4 compliance with each of WASC’s 4 standardsstandards

How do we get out of Probation?How do we get out of Probation?

We need to follow the WASC accreditation We need to follow the WASC accreditation standards and implement all of their standards and implement all of their recommendations. recommendations. CDU must demonstrate at the time of 2011 CDU must demonstrate at the time of 2011 Special Visit that it is in compliance with all Special Visit that it is in compliance with all Commission Standards and has demonstrated Commission Standards and has demonstrated that it has the resources, organizational that it has the resources, organizational arrangements, academic standards and arrangements, academic standards and processes necessary to give assurance of processes necessary to give assurance of continuous self-monitoring, as well as the continuous self-monitoring, as well as the continued stability of its purposes, programs, continued stability of its purposes, programs, faculty and staff, and financial and physical faculty and staff, and financial and physical resources for a minimum of five years. resources for a minimum of five years.

WASC Standards I and IIWASC Standards I and II

Standard I: Defining Institutional Purposes Standard I: Defining Institutional Purposes and Ensuring Educational Objectivesand Ensuring Educational Objectives– Institutional PurposesInstitutional Purposes– IntegrityIntegrity

Standard II: Achieving Educational Standard II: Achieving Educational Objectives through Core FunctionsObjectives through Core Functions– Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning– Scholarship and Creative ActivityScholarship and Creative Activity– Support for Student LearningSupport for Student Learning

WASC Standards III and IVWASC Standards III and IV

Standard III: Developing and Applying Standard III: Developing and Applying Resources and Organizational Structures to Resources and Organizational Structures to Ensure SustainabilityEnsure Sustainability– Faculty and StaffFaculty and Staff– Fiscal, Physical, and Information ResourcesFiscal, Physical, and Information Resources– Organizational Structures and Decision-Making Organizational Structures and Decision-Making

ProcessesProcesses

Standard IV: Creating an Organization Standard IV: Creating an Organization Committed to Learning and ImprovementCommitted to Learning and Improvement– Strategic Thinking and PlanningStrategic Thinking and Planning– Commitment to Learning and ImprovementCommitment to Learning and Improvement

How do we get out of Probation?How do we get out of Probation?

We need to follow the WASC accreditation We need to follow the WASC accreditation standards and implement all of their standards and implement all of their recommendations. recommendations. CDU must demonstrate at the time of 2011 CDU must demonstrate at the time of 2011 Special Visit that it is in compliance with all Special Visit that it is in compliance with all Commission Standards and has demonstrated Commission Standards and has demonstrated that it has the resources, organizational that it has the resources, organizational arrangements, academic standards and arrangements, academic standards and processes necessary to give assurance of processes necessary to give assurance of continuous self-monitoring, as well as the continuous self-monitoring, as well as the continued stability of its purposes, programs, continued stability of its purposes, programs, faculty and staff, and financial and physical faculty and staff, and financial and physical resources for a minimum of five years. resources for a minimum of five years.

So, What can happen?So, What can happen?

WASC has only a particular set of actions it can take….WASC has only a particular set of actions it can take….

Grant Candidacy or Initial AccreditationGrant Candidacy or Initial AccreditationDeny Candidacy or Initial AccreditationDeny Candidacy or Initial AccreditationDefer ActionDefer ActionContinue Accreditation between the Capacity and Preparatory Continue Accreditation between the Capacity and Preparatory Review and the Educational Effectiveness ReviewReview and the Educational Effectiveness ReviewReaffirm AccreditationReaffirm AccreditationIssue a Formal Notice of ConcernIssue a Formal Notice of ConcernIssue a WarningIssue a WarningImpose ProbationImpose ProbationIssue an Order to Show CauseIssue an Order to Show CauseTerminate AccreditationTerminate Accreditation

WASC has only a particular set of actions it can take….WASC has only a particular set of actions it can take….

Grant Candidacy or Initial AccreditationGrant Candidacy or Initial AccreditationDeny Candidacy or Initial AccreditationDeny Candidacy or Initial AccreditationDefer ActionDefer ActionContinue Accreditation between the Capacity and Preparatory Continue Accreditation between the Capacity and Preparatory Review and the Educational Effectiveness ReviewReview and the Educational Effectiveness ReviewReaffirm AccreditationReaffirm AccreditationIssue a Formal Notice of ConcernIssue a Formal Notice of ConcernIssue a WarningIssue a WarningImpose ProbationImpose ProbationIssue an Order to Show CauseIssue an Order to Show CauseTerminate AccreditationTerminate Accreditation

What’s next, then?What’s next, then?

Three potential outcomes:Three potential outcomes:– Reaffirm AccreditationReaffirm Accreditation– Issue an Order to Show CauseIssue an Order to Show Cause– Terminate AccreditationTerminate Accreditation

ReaffirmationReaffirmation

Reaffirmation of accreditation occurs at the completion of Reaffirmation of accreditation occurs at the completion of the comprehensive review cycle (following the EER) or the comprehensive review cycle (following the EER) or when an institution is taken off of a sanction. when an institution is taken off of a sanction. It indicates that the Commission has found that an It indicates that the Commission has found that an institution has met or exceeded the expectations of the institution has met or exceeded the expectations of the Standards and the Core Commitments to Institutional Standards and the Core Commitments to Institutional Capacity and Educational Effectiveness. Capacity and Educational Effectiveness. Reaffirmation is granted for up to ten years and may be Reaffirmation is granted for up to ten years and may be accompanied by a request for interim reports and/or accompanied by a request for interim reports and/or special visits, or a formal Notice of Concern.special visits, or a formal Notice of Concern.

Formal Notice of ConcernFormal Notice of Concern

This action provides notice to an institution that, while it This action provides notice to an institution that, while it currently meets WASC Standards, it is in danger of currently meets WASC Standards, it is in danger of being found out of compliance with one or more being found out of compliance with one or more Standards if current trends continue. Standards if current trends continue. A formal Notice of Concern may also be issued when an A formal Notice of Concern may also be issued when an institution is removed from a sanction and the institution is removed from a sanction and the Commission wishes to emphasize the need for Commission wishes to emphasize the need for continuing progress and monitoring. continuing progress and monitoring. Institutions issued a formal Notice of Concern have a Institutions issued a formal Notice of Concern have a special visit within four years to assess progress. special visit within four years to assess progress. If the Commission’s concerns are not addressed by the If the Commission’s concerns are not addressed by the time of the visit, a sanction is imposed.time of the visit, a sanction is imposed.

Order to Show CauseOrder to Show CauseAn Order to Show Cause is a decision by the An Order to Show Cause is a decision by the Commission to terminate the accreditation of the Commission to terminate the accreditation of the institution within a maximum period of one year from the institution within a maximum period of one year from the date of the Order, unless the institution can show cause date of the Order, unless the institution can show cause why such action should not be taken. why such action should not be taken. Such an Order may be issued when an institution is Such an Order may be issued when an institution is found to be in substantial noncompliance with one or found to be in substantial noncompliance with one or more Commission Standards or, having been placed on more Commission Standards or, having been placed on Warning or Probation for at least one year, has not been Warning or Probation for at least one year, has not been found to have made sufficient progress to come into found to have made sufficient progress to come into compliance with the Standards. compliance with the Standards. In response to the Order, the institution has the burden In response to the Order, the institution has the burden of proving why its candidacy or accreditation should not of proving why its candidacy or accreditation should not be terminated. The institution must demonstrate that it be terminated. The institution must demonstrate that it has responded satisfactorily to Commission concerns, has responded satisfactorily to Commission concerns, has come into compliance with all Commission has come into compliance with all Commission Standards, and will likely be able to sustain compliance. Standards, and will likely be able to sustain compliance.

Terminate AccreditationTerminate Accreditation

A decision to terminate accreditation is made by the A decision to terminate accreditation is made by the Commission when an institution has been found to be Commission when an institution has been found to be seriously out of compliance with one or more Standards. seriously out of compliance with one or more Standards. Although Although not requirednot required, a decision to terminate may be , a decision to terminate may be made after an Order to Show Cause or another sanction made after an Order to Show Cause or another sanction has been imposed and the institution has failed to come has been imposed and the institution has failed to come into compliance. into compliance. When accreditation is terminated, a specific date of When accreditation is terminated, a specific date of implementation is specified. implementation is specified. An action to terminate accreditation is subject to both the An action to terminate accreditation is subject to both the Commission review procedures and the WASC appeals Commission review procedures and the WASC appeals process. process. If an institution closes after a termination action, the If an institution closes after a termination action, the institution must comply with federal requirements and institution must comply with federal requirements and WASC policies about teach-out arrangements.WASC policies about teach-out arrangements.

This CAN happen to usThis CAN happen to us

A number of colleges HAVE lost their A number of colleges HAVE lost their accreditation, even after working very hard accreditation, even after working very hard to change their universityto change their university

Recent WASC accreditation losses: Recent WASC accreditation losses: University of West Los Angeles (2006); University of West Los Angeles (2006); New College of California (2008)New College of California (2008)– The New College story: The New College story: http://http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_College_of_Califoren.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_College_of_Californiania

What does this visit mean?What does this visit mean?

WASC wants to see if we are in compliance with WASC wants to see if we are in compliance with the four standardsthe four standardsParticularly, they are interested to see if we have Particularly, they are interested to see if we have rectified the issues they observed in five major rectified the issues they observed in five major areas:areas:– Open Communication with WASC and the CDU Open Communication with WASC and the CDU

communitycommunity– Presidential and Board LeadershipPresidential and Board Leadership– Financial Stability, Planning, and ManagementFinancial Stability, Planning, and Management– Faculty Governance, Policies, and DevelopmentFaculty Governance, Policies, and Development– Assessment of Student Learning and Student Assessment of Student Learning and Student

Success and University EndeavorsSuccess and University Endeavors

How can I help?How can I help?READ THE DOCUMENTS!READ THE DOCUMENTS!– Be familiar with the correspondence between CDU and WASC Be familiar with the correspondence between CDU and WASC

especially the 7/9/09 letter from WASC and the Special Visit especially the 7/9/09 letter from WASC and the Special Visit Report from 12/10Report from 12/10

Understand how the WASC standards apply to your role Understand how the WASC standards apply to your role as a faculty member, whether a teacher, researcher, or as a faculty member, whether a teacher, researcher, or clinicianclinicianBe prepared for the visit with evidence of compliance Be prepared for the visit with evidence of compliance with WASC’s standardswith WASC’s standardsBe available for the WASC visit and for work that needs Be available for the WASC visit and for work that needs to be doneto be doneParticipate in meetings and in making change happenParticipate in meetings and in making change happen

http://www.cdrewu.edu/about-cdu/waschttp://www.cdrewu.edu/about-cdu/wasc

http://http://wascsenior.orgwascsenior.org