WASC is Coming! Regional Reaccreditation Visit Planned for Spring 2016

Accreditation stands as the hallmark of a university’s academic standards and demonstrates to students, alumni, employers and community members, through its work of peer review based on standards agreed to by the members, that the institution is fulfilling its mission in service to students and the public good.

CSUSM was first accredited in 1993 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the regional accrediting agency that serves public and private institutions throughout California, Hawaii and the Pacific as well as a limited number of institutions outside of the U.S. Since then the University’s accreditation has been reaffirmed approximately every seven years. CSUSM’s last reaccreditation visit was in 2009 and its next one will be in the spring of 2016.

In preparation for the 2016 WASC visit, Cal State San Marcos has engaged in an intensive self-study process that has focused on its commitment to student learning. Charged with writing the report was the CSUSM WASC Steering Committee, whose members include Glen Brodowsky, professor of marketing in the College of Business Administration; Tracey Brown, chair of the Department of Biology and associate professor of biology in the College of Science and Mathematics; Melanie Chu, outreach librarian in the University Library;

Elizabeth Matthews, chair of the Department of Global Studies and associate professor of global studies in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences; Dilcie Perez, dean of students in Student Affairs; Patricia Prado-Olmos, vice president of Community Engagement and Melissa Simnitt, assessment specialist in Student Affairs.

The Steering Committee also led teams who were tasked with writing a report showcasing CSUSM’s story and successes across the institution. The WASC team will review this report before their visit to CSUSM on March 16-18, 2016. The entire report, as well as all information about the WASC visit, will be available at www.csusm.edu/wasc.

“This is an exciting time for Cal State San Marcos,” said Regina Eisenbach, dean of Academic Programs who also serves as the accreditation liaison officer, ensuring that there is streamlined and effective communication between the commission and Cal State San Marcos. “I want to thank all those who are dedicated to making this spring’s visit from the WASC team successful. We look forward to sharing more information throughout this academic year with the campus community about the process and importance of this re-accreditation.”

With approximately 180 days to go until CSUSM welcomes the WASC Reaccreditation Visiting Committee, a countdown clock will soon be mounted in front of Kellogg Library.