Western Association of Schools and Colleges - ACCJC
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of six regional institutional accrediting agencies in the United States. It covers public and private colleges and universities in California and Hawaii, as well as those in the territories of Guam and American Samoa. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges is the part of WASC that accredits those institutions that offer associate degrees. The WASC ACCJC is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an accrediting authority.
WASC ACCJC's Accrediting StandardsBefore becoming accredited (and in order to maintain accreditation) member institutions must meet certain eligibility requirements. To summarize, each school accredited by the WASC ACCJC must:
- Establish an educational mission appropriate for its student population
- Strive to improve student learning on a continual basis
- Offer effective instructional programs and appropriate students services
- Possess enough resources (human, physical, financial, and technological) to meet students' educational needs
- Have a well-defined and effective governance structure
Each of these areas is articulated in greater detail within the ACCJC's "Eligibility Requirements for Accreditation."
The ACCJC also promotes integrity and accountability on the part of member institutions by outlining policies that articulate its standards on key accreditation-related issues. For instance, the ACCJC recently developed a policy that addresses the degree to which institutions may award credit for prior experiential learning. This policy emphasizes the responsibility of institutions to ensure that students earn degrees within the institution itself, rather than simply certifying what has been learned elsewhere. However, the policy outlines circumstances under which credit for prior experiential learning may be awarded.
The WASC ACCJC accreditation process offers both the opportunity for schools to analyze and improve their educational offerings, as well as the opportunity for the general public and potential students to observe the vote of confidence that accreditation brings.
Article ReferencesWestern Association of Schools and Colleges
http://www.wascweb.org/
http://www.accjc.org/
Heald College
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Western Career College
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San Joaquin Valley College Online
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