Accreditation FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Accreditation.
Accreditation refers to the process of evaluating colleges, universities, schools, departments, and programs against accepted standards of quality.
In addition to confirming that students are receiving a quality education, the accreditation process helps institutions identify opportunities for improvement and also is a requirement for students to receive federal (and in some cases state) financial aid.
There are two types of accreditation that may be familiar to the WesternU community; institutional and specialized.
Institutional (or regional) accreditation pertains to the entire institution and is overseen by one the six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Specialized (professional or programmatic) accreditation may refer to accreditation of programs, departments, or schools. In cases where a program, department, or school constitutes the entire institution the specialized accreditor may also function as the institutional accreditor
The Western Association of School and College (WASC) is one of the six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. WASC accredits institutions throughout California, Hawaii, and the Pacific.
WASC is divided into three sub agencies, one for schools below college-level (high schools, etc.), one for junior colleges, and one for senior colleges. The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) accredits senior colleges and universities (including WesternU).
Historically the time between institutional accreditation cycles (end point to end point) has been anywhere from six to ten years. Generally speaking, longer intervals are awarded to institutions with more favorable accreditation review outcomes. WSCUC is currently using a 6-8-10 year paradigm.
The outcome depends on the institution and their accreditation history. WSCUC may determine eligibility, candidacy, or initial accreditation (for institutions new to the process). WSCUC may reaffirm accreditation for a period of 6-8-10 years or impose a sanction for the institution that have previously received initial accreditation. A full description of possible outcomes can be found in the WSCUC Handbook of Accreditation.
Information about WesternU’s accreditation status can be found on the WSCUC directory.