What is WASC?
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. Through its review processes, WASC confirms that an institution as a whole has in place the resources and practices to achieve its educational goals and has provided evidence of the quality of its educational programs. All universities, including each of our sister UC's, are regularly reviewed and reaccredited by WASC. Currently, a UC Merced degree is respected by institutions across the country as evidenced by our graduates' acceptances into diverse and reputable professional and graduate schools.
The WASC accreditation process is a multi-year endeavor that includes:
• earning Eligibility,
• earning Candidacy,
• earning Initial Accreditation.
Currently, UC Merced is working toward Initial Accreditation. This requires two sequential and related reviews: the Capacity and Preparatory Revew and Educational Effectiveness Review. Each review involves the submission of a report followed by an on-campus site visit. In July of 2009, UC Merced submitted its Capacity and Preparatory Review Report. The associated site visit will take place from September 29 to October 1, 2009. The site visit is conducted by a team of faculty and administrators from accredited institutions and the resulting team report is submitted to the WASC Commission for review and action.
Institutions elect to undergo accreditation review for several reasons besides assurance of quality and adherence to academic standards. Accreditation determines a school's eligibility for participation in federal (Title IV) and state financial aid programs. Accreditation also is important for the acceptance and transfer of college credit, and is a prerequisite for many graduate programs. Generally, college credits or degrees received at a regionally accredited institution are accepted by other regionally accredited colleges or universities. As mentioned above, currently UC Merced graduates are earning admission to diverse and reputable professional and graduate schools.
The accreditation process does not end with Initial Accreditation. Once granted, the institution is subject to periodic review and to conditions as determined by the WASC Commission. Every accredited institution files an annual report, undergoes a comprehensive self review and evaluation and is visited at least every ten years. As a matter of Commission policy, Initial Accreditation requires institutional self review and peer evaluation no more than seven years after the date of the Commission action granting such status.
Learn more about WASC
The accrediting activities of WASC are conducted by three Commissions, each working with a different segment of education. The Commission working with UC Merced is the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities: http://www.wascsenior.org/wasc/.
Contact information:
985 Atlantic Ave., Suite 100
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 748-9001
Key WASC Publications