Western Association of Schools and Colleges

US university accreditation organization until 2012

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

WASC operational area

Abbreviation| WASC
Legal status| Association
Purpose| Educational accreditation
Headquarters| Burlingame, California
Alameda, California
Novato, California

Region served

| California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Marianas Islands, Palau, Tokyo, Prague, Yerevan, Seoul, Lima, Jeju Island
Affiliations| CHEA, US Department of Education
Website|

* ACS WASC
* ACCJC
* WSCUC

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC (/wɒsk/ WOSK)) provided accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in California and Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa and Northern Marianas Islands, in addition to the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, the Pacific Rim, Peru, Czech Republic, Armenia, and East Asia.

Until 2012, WASC was a single organization with three units. In 2012, it separated into three organizations that share the WASC acronym as part of their name: the Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS WASC), the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

## Accrediting Commission for Schools

[edit]

The Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS WASC)[1] accredits schools below the college level. Included are elementary, junior high, middle, high and adult schools, whether public, private, or church-related. ACS WASC also accredits not-for-profit, non-degree granting postsecondary institutions.[citation needed]

## Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

[edit]

Main article: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)[2] evaluates and accredits public and private postsecondary institutions that offer two-year education programs and award the associate degree.

The ACCJC's mission is to help member institutions "to advance educational quality and student learning and achievement. This collaboration fosters institutional excellence and continuous improvement through innovation, self-analysis, peer review, and application of standards."[3]

## WASC Senior College and University Commission

[edit]

The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is an institutional accrediting agency for colleges and universities that award bachelor's degrees or more advanced degrees. It originally and still primarily accredits institutions in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific, as well as a limited number of institutions outside the U.S. WSCUC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as certifying institutional eligibility for federal funding in a number of programs, including student access to federal financial aid.[4]

## See also

[edit]

* Council for Higher Education Accreditation
* List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations
* United States Department of Education

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Western Association of Schools & Colleges – WASC ACS – Welcome". Acswasc.org. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
2. ^ "Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges". Accjc.org. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
3. ^ "About Us - ACCJC". accjc.org. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
4. ^ "About Us - WASC Senior College and University Commission". www.wscuc.org. Retrieved April 19, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* ACS website
* ACCJC website
* WSCUC website

* v
* t
* e

Postsecondary institutional accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

* Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
* Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
* Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
* Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
* Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
* Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
* American Bar Association
* American Board of Funeral Service Education
* American Osteopathic Association
* American Podiatric Medical Association
* Association for Biblical Higher Education
* Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools
* Association of Institutions of Jewish Studies
* Association of Theological Schools
* Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
* Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
* Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
* Council on Chiropractic Education
* Council on Occupational Education
* Distance Education Accrediting Commission
* Higher Learning Commission
* Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
* Middle States Commission on Higher Education
* Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
* Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
* Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
* National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences
* National Association of Schools of Art and Design
* National Association of Schools of Dance
* National Association of Schools of Music
* National Association of Schools of Theatre
* New England Commission of Higher Education
* Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
* Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
* Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
* WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
* WASC Senior College and University Commission

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template