Wasc Senior College And University Commission

HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE THROUGH ACCREDITATION.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: WSCUC OFFERS EXTENSIVE PROGRAMMING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION, STUDENT SUCCESS, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS. OFFERINGS INCLUDE AN ANNUAL THREE DAY CONFERENCE, SPECIALIZED YEAR-LONG WORKSHOP, MULTIPLE TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY EXCHANGES FOR A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 2,000 PARTICIPANTS. TOPICS FOCUS ON IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH EFFECTIVE ATTENTION TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION, EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING, ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING AND PROGRAMS, GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP, AND PLANNING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. SPECIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ACCREDITATION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, CEO/TRUSTEE FORUMS, AND PREPARATION FOR THE ACCREDITATION WORK OF THE PEER EVALUATOR NETWORK.

ACCREDITATION REVIEWS: TO ASSURE SATISFACTION OF STANDARDS AND PROMOTE IMPROVEMENT, WSCUC CONDUCTS HIGHLY-STRUCTURED REVIEWS ANNUALLY IN THE FORM OF REAFFIRMATION, SPECIAL VISITS, AND SEEKING ACCREDITATION VISITS AND SPECIALIZED MONITORING AND CHANGE PROCESSES. NEARLY 400 EXPERT PEER VOLUNTEERS FROM MEMBER INSTITUTIONS CONTRIBUTE TIME TO SUSTAIN THESE CORE ACTIVITIES, FACILITATING PEER REVIEW ACCORDING TO THE STANDARDS AND CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. IN SUPPORT OF THESE REVIEWS AND DECISIONS, WSCUC DEVELOPS STANDARDS, POLICIES, AND GUIDANCE TO ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS AND PROMOTE GOOD PRACTICE AND SELECTS AND PREPARES PEER REVIEWERS AND TEAMS. DURING THIS PERIOD THE STANDARDS WERE UNDERGOING DEEP REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSED NEW STANDARDS. WSCUC ALSO DEVELOPS EXTENSIVE EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THROUGH THE PUBLIC KEY INDICATORS DASHBOARD (KID), TO HELP INSTITUTIONS AND REVIEWERS UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE STUDENT SUCCESS AND INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE. WSCUC IS RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CERTIFY QUALITY AND INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING STUDENT ACCESS TO FEDERAL TITLE IV FINANCIAL AID. SEE WSCUC.ORG

POLICY, INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP: WSCUC PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY AND PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ITS MISSION-DRIVEN, RESULTS-ORIENTED, AND FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO ACCREDITATION QUALITY REVIEW; ITS IMPLEMENTATION OF PIONEERING APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS AS OUTCOME DATA AND DISAGGREGATION; ENGAGEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES; DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES AND FORUMS FOR INTERCHANGE WITH CAMPUSES; AND MEDIA ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATION.