Catalog Requirements for WSCUC Accreditation

For colleges and universities seeking accreditation or reaffirmation with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), your catalog will be an essential document throughout the process. We’ve compiled a checklist of what your catalog needs to include when applying for accreditation with WSCUC. As always, this is intended as a general guide and you should confirm requirements with the official WSCUC manual.

Accreditation statement

The following accreditation statement should appear in your catalog:

[Name of institution] is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001.”

If you're a candidate for accreditation, the statement should be:

“[Name of institution] has been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748- 9001. This status is a preliminary preaccreditation affiliation with the Commission awarded within the five year period allowed to achieve Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is an indication that the institution is progressing toward Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is not Accreditation and does not ensure eventual Accreditation.

Required Information

Your catalog should contain accurate and current info on the following:

• Official name, address, telephone, website
• Educational mission
• Course, program, degree offerings
• Academic calendar and program length
• Available student financial aid
• Available learning resources (library, technology, and support services)
• Names and degrees of administrators and faculty
• Names of governing board members
• Admissions criteria and processes
• Student fees and other financial obligations
• All degrees, diplomas, and certificates currently offered
• Graduation and transfer policies

Major policies affecting students:

• Academic regulations including academic honesty
• Nondiscrimination policies and procedures
• Acceptance of transfer credits
• Grievance and complaint procedures
• Sexual harassment policies and procedures
• Refund of tuition and fees
• Location or publications where other policies may be found

Required for the Website

WSCUC requires the following information to be listed on your website; information listed on Clean Catalog sites should suffice for this requirement, since they're effectively part of your campus web presence:

• Institutional mission
• Credit hour policy
• Transfer credit policy, criteria, articulation agreements
• Required in accordance with U.S. Department of Education regulation 668.43(a)(11): transfer

policy needs to be publically disclosed; must include criteria regarding transfer of credit and a list of institutions with which it has established an articulation agreement.

• Student complaints/grievance policy or procedures
• WSCUC Compliance with Federal Requirements Checklist: Institution’s policy needs to be easily accessible.
• Retention and graduation rates (however the institution wishes to present this information)
• Evidence of student learning outcomes (however the institution wishes to present this information)

Recommended for website:

• Institutional mission
• Credit hour policy
• WSCUC policy: Institution’s policy needs to be easily accessible.
• Transfer credit policy, criteria, articulation agreements
• Required in accordance with U.S. Department of Education regulation 668.43(a)(11): transfer

policy needs to be publically disclosed; must include criteria regarding transfer of credit and a list of institutions with which it has established an articulation agreement.

• Student complaints/grievance policy or procedures
• WSCUC Compliance with Federal Requirements Checklist: Institution’s policy needs to be easily accessible.
• Retention and graduation rates (however the institution wishes to present this information)
• Evidence of student learning outcomes (however the institution wishes to present this information)
• Net price calculator