CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINQUEZ HILLS WSCUC 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 2

Regional Agencies 3 WSCUC stands for: - “WASC Senior College & University Commission” - “WASC” is now a brand, not an acronym

WSCUC Region 174 accredited institutions ~ 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) 5

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] 6

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) 7

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) 8

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” - March 22,

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) 10

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) 11

The Institutional Review Process IT’S A STORY – It’s Your Narrative ( And write it in a way you would want to read it) 12

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 14

The Institutional Review Process (page 4) Estimable Qualities of an Institutional Report: Candid and frank Brief and succinct Clear and precise “Simple and direct” 15

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 16