CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINQUEZ

HILLSWSCUC and Regional Accreditation in a

National Perspective

March 26, 2015

Christopher Oberg, Vice President/COO

WASC Senior College and University Commission

“WSCUC”

WSCUC stands for:- “WASC Senior College & University Commission”- “WASC” is now a brand, not an acronym

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Regional Agencies

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WSCUC stands for:- “WASC Senior College & University Commission”- “WASC” is now a brand, not an acronym

WSCUC Region• 174 accredited institutions

• ~ 1.2 + million students

• Variety of missions, programs

and institutional types

• 90% Non profit, 10% For profit

• 60% of student enrollment in

state institutions 4

SHIFTING ROLE OF ACCREDITATION

• Compliance centered (1980s)

• Improvement centered (1990s)

• Accountability centered (2000s)

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SHIFTING ROLE OF ACCREDITATION – WHY?

It’s the Money!!• $ 11,500,000,000 ($11.5B)• $430,000,000,000 ($430B)• $600,000,000,000 ($600B) [approximately 3.5% GDP]

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Forces and Influences on Higher Education’s Topography

• Perceived low graduation rates (Not enough product)

• High student debt (Product costs too much)

• Employer dissatisfaction with graduates’ skills (Product is of poor quality)

• Changing student demographics (Product input characteristics inconsistent)

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Forces and Influences on Higher Education’s Topography

(page 2)

• Swirl (Product input availability inconsistent)

• Accelerated expansion of online learning (Means of production vary)

• Growth of the for-profit sector (Models of production vary)

• Increased federal regulation and lower state support (Government environment unwelcoming)

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Forces and Influences on Higher Education’s Topography

(page 3)

The promotion of the degree as a gateway to higher income:

“A Berkeley education earns our graduates an additional $26,333 each year in income over those who did not go to college”http://admissions.berkeley.edu/costofattendance - March 22, 2015

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Core Commitments (2013 Handbook)

1. Student Learning and Success (Outcomes or Output)

2. Quality and Improvement (Process)

3. Integrity, Sustainability, and Accountability (Coherency, Capacity, Compliance)

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Core Commitments (2013 Handbook)

(page 2)

1. Student Learning and Success (Outcomes or Output)

2. Quality and Improvement (Process)

3. Integrity, Sustainability, and Accountability (Coherency, Capacity, Compliance)

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The Institutional Review Process

IT’S A STORY –It’s Your Narrative

( And write it in a way you would want to read it)

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The Institutional Review Process(page 2)

REFLECT AND RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE

(“Review under WSCUC Standards and Compliance with Federal

Requirements” and “Inventory of Educational Effectiveness

Indicators”)13

The Institutional Review Process(page 3)

“DMAA”- Define- Measure- Analyze- Act

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The Institutional Review Process(page 4)

• Estimable Qualities of an Institutional Report:• Candid and frank• Brief and succinct• Clear and precise• “Simple and direct”

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The Role of the WSCUC VP Liaison

• Counselor• Coach/Trainer • Collaborator in the process • Communicator/Interpreter

with/for institution and team• AND lastly• Compliance Officer

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