The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of the six regional accrediting associations in the United States. As noted by WASC, “The WASC accreditation process aids institutions in developing and sustaining effective educational programs and assures the educational community, the general public, and other organizations that an accredited institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness.”

In 2001 WASC published a handbook with a new approach to accreditation, based on institutional evidence and a focus on educational effectiveness and student learning. The four standards that embody this new approach to accreditation are illustrated by Criteria for Review.

Under this new approach to accreditation, institutions prepare three relatively brief reports and receive two separate visits from WASC.

The schedule for Pacific Union College is as follows:

» SPRING 2007: Institutional Proposal
» FALL 2009: Capacity and Preparatory Review
» SPRING 2011: Educational Effectiveness Review