Reaffirmation of WASC Accreditation

Our reaffirmation of accreditation based on WASC’s new standards and the 2001 Handbook was successful. The visiting teams found "a vital institution, serving a unique mission and targeting a diverse population with distinction. ...two campuses that work together, an engaged faculty, and exemplary programs, including the Institute for Student Academic Enrichment and the Undergraduate Science Research program. It was impressed by the College’s focus on service and its success in attracting external grant support. Since the last review, the College has committed itself to a robust strategic-planning process; its leadership has gained wide legitimacy on the campus; and it has clarified priorities." In its letter, WASC challenged the College to sustain and improve institutional capacity, to enhance attention to student learning, and to pay particular attention to faculty diversity and workload.

Our next accreditation visits will be in fall 2012 and fall 2013. This ten-year period is the maximum time allowed between accreditation visits. An interim progress report is due summer 2006.

The full text of the letter that the College received from WASC (June 30, 2003) is available to faculty, staff, and students (on reserve) in both libraries.