WASC Renews PUC Accreditation

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the organization that accredits educational institutions in California and Hawaii, concluded a six-year review of Pacific Union College last month, awarding PUC uninterrupted accreditation through spring of 2018.

“This process, while long, was very helpful as we continue to improve student learning at PUC,” said academic dean Nancy Lecourt. “We learned a lot and consider it a growing process.”

That process included two visits by WASC evaluation teams, as well as three rigorous reports on the college’s progress in several areas recommended at the beginning of the review, including strategic planning, financial stability, and student enrollment and retention.

In a letter to the college administration, WASC applauded PUC’s “effective and committed engagement with issues of continuous improvement.” More specifically, the organization praised PUC’s faculty for maintaining a strong system of self-review, and to the college in general for its “commitment to a culture of evidence” in evaluating best courses of action.