It’s no secret that Chapman University is on the rise. According to U.S. News and World Report rankings, Chapman is now a nationally-recognized institution ranked 125th in the country.
In August, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) conducted a Mid-Cycle Review of Chapman’s accreditation status with positive findings that further elevate the University’s reputation. The Mid-Cycle Review is an important step in the accreditation process.
WASC, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, is an accrediting association and one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States.
What is Accreditation?
The accreditation process starts with a comprehensive self-study followed by a site visit with a team of peer evaluators. The Mid-Cycle Review reassesses the goals set by the University in the initial self-study.
Accreditation is important for a university because it determines whether an institution meets certain standards of quality. Additionally, accreditation confirms the validity of transcripts from an institution. Accreditation can even affect how potential employers view graduates from an institution.
Chapman University’s institutional review process is a voluntary process in which a regional non-governmental agency reviews the University’s ability to fulfill its mission and provide an acceptable quality of education. The University was first accredited in 1956 and was last reaffirmed in 2014.
Mid-Cycle Review Results
Impressively, the University passed the Mid-Cycle Review with no recommendations.
“It is rare in today’s world of accreditation for an institution to receive no directives for additional information and follow-up reporting,” says Joseph Slowensky, vice provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Faculty Affairs and WASC Accreditation Liaison Officer. “This is a testament to Chapman’s rising national reputation and the strong trust we have built with our accrediting agency. While many universities are struggling or declining, Chapman is strong academically and financially. A big reason for these positive findings is our faculty’s commitment to continuously improving our students’ learning experiences.”
A big reason for these positive findings is our faculty’s commitment to continuously improving our students’ learning experiences.
Below are the findings of the WASC committee:
- Chapman has had steady enrollment growth. Graduation rates are very strong at the four-year and six-year level.
- The Student Success pages are easy to find and navigate with rich and helpful information.
- The Program Review page is exceptionally well organized with structure, schedule, templates, and timelines.
- Annual Learning Outcomes assessment reports are complete with excellent assessment of data leading to program improvement.
- The IEEI (Inventory of Educational Effectiveness Indicators) is comprehensively developed with links to student success pages for assessments and outcomes.
For a comprehensive list of the results of the WASC committee, please see the WSCUC Mid-Cycle Review Response Letter 2019.