Accreditation

CSUMB has just concluded our WASC review process, and we are pleased to report that WASC has reaffirmed our accreditation through 2019.

WASC-accredited institutions must engage in a re-affirmation of accreditation on a regular basis, typically every 7-10 years. The process that just concluded for CSUMB is our first re-affirmation.

The re-affirmation process itself takes several years, and includes two site visits from WASC reviewers. For each visit, the campus prepares extensive reports documenting the work it has done that pertains to the WASC criteria for accreditation. The first visit is known as the “Capacity and Preparatory Review.” CSUMB’s Capacity and Preparatory Review visit took place in September of 2009. The second WASC visit focuses on “Educational Effectiveness.”  CSUMB’s final Educational Effectiveness Review visit took place in March, 2011. The visiting team then presented their report to the WASC Accrediting Commission, which rendered its final decision regarding accreditation status in July 2011.

Both the visiting team and the commission have commended CSUMB for accomplishments in several key areas. Overall, the commission valued our “dynamism, adaptation, and planning that have taken place during this comprehensive review.” The visiting team commended the campus for “improving processes that have dramatically affected student retention.” The commission highlighted the fact that recent work on improving graduation and retention rates “has been far-reaching and is starting to yield positive results.”

In addition, the commission noted that the university “is to be commended for aligning resources with strategic goals and priorities, even in a challenging economic environment.” In their report after the March 2011 visit, the reviewers stated that “. . . CSUMB has remained true to its initial vision yet has initiated and accepted change in ways that make it a stronger institution and keep student learning at its core.”

After its March 2011 visit, the WASC team concluded that “CSUMB is an active and dynamic institution that continues to embrace its vision, adapt to its environment, and plan for the future. Administrators, faculty and staff are invested in student learning and are committed to the institutional vision. Student success appears to be paramount, and decision-making is founded on what is  perceived to be the best for the students.”

What's next?

As CSUMB moves into the future, the campus will prepare an Interim Report for WASC mid-way through the next accreditation cycle in order to document progress on the areas that are important for the campus and for increasing student success. These include a data-driven focus on improving retention and graduation rates, continued progress on assessment, and a focus on defining academic rigor.

Please refer back to this website for updates and new materials, as our work in these areas continues.