WSU Regional Institutional Accreditation
Once every ten years we organize ourselves to review and evaluate the entire institution in a process that takes nearly three years to complete. We are asked to analyze our effectiveness by testing ourselves against a set of standards that has been developed and revised over time by the membership of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and to demonstrate how effective we are in fulfilling our mission and the plans that support that mission. Ultimately our focus on quality and excellence should be enhanced by this process.
Within our self-study report and during the NWCCU
accreditation team visit (April 1-3, 2009), WSU will be
expected to show that it meets each accreditation
standard, each element of the Commission’s
eligibility requirements, and related policies, and all
other applicable policies. The self-study
document should be succinct, thoughtful, and analytical
including an appraisal of the institution’s
strengths, weaknesses, and achievements relative to its
mission and to each standard.
In essence, the self-study should answer this question:
What is the evidence for our effectiveness and impact in meeting our goals for educating undergraduate and graduate/professional students; conducting scholarship and research; and providing service/outreach?
WSU was last re-accredited in 1999, and that status was reaffirmed by the commission on the basis of a regular five-year interim report in 2004.
Approximately 200 people – including institutional leaders, committee members, deans and chairs – were involved in the re-accreditation self-study process beginning fall 2006. Following self-studies by each academic unit, college and area, a university wide draft self-study was made available for feedback and comment. With those recommendations incorporated, the final self-study was approved by the Board of Regents on January 30, 2009.