Wednesday, July 18, 2007, Camarillo, Calif.ā91³Ō¹Ļ has been granted Initial Accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. CSUCI received written confirmation of its accreditation on Tuesday, July 17.
WASC is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. The WASC Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities is responsible for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of colleges and universities offering baccalaureate degrees and higher in California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Pacific Basin.
āThe team commends Channel Islands for its institution-wide commitment to and implementation of learning-centered practices that place it far ahead of many much older and better-established universities within theĀ CSU, the state and nation,ā stated a report given to the accrediting commission by the WASC Educational Effectiveness Review (EER) Team that visited CSUCI in March.
Initial Accreditation for 91³Ō¹Ļ has been granted for a maximum of seven years.
Initial Accreditation requires a lengthy review process, and, according to WASC policy, cannot be granted until the first freshman class has graduated.
āOur first freshman class graduated on May 19, 2007, and we were granted Initial Accreditation for the maximum of seven years on that same historic day,ā said University President Richard R. Rush. āAs such, CSUCI was granted accreditation at the earliest possible date.ā
The EER Team recognized CSUCIās refinement of the concept of āinterdisciplinarityā and its implementation, beginning with faculty recruitment and carried forward into curriculum design and assessment, as noteworthy, and encouraged the University to share its results within the region in the coming years.
āClearly, this is a community committed to educational effectiveness and united by its student-centered mission,ā stated the report of the EER Team.
The letter sent to CSUCI conveying its Initial Accreditation also stated the following:Ā āIn another area of commendable practice, CSUCI has transformed historic buildings into a visually appealing learning environment in a very short time, built a new faculty and staff team essentially ex nihilo, designed and delivered innovative curricula, significantly engaged the community in the process, and has now produced its first cohort of four-year graduates.ā The letter was signed by Ralph A. Wolff, President and Executive Director of the WASC Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
āThe faculty, staff, and entire campus community offered unwavering support and diligence throughout this process,ā Rush said. āI also want to express my sincere thanks to our provost, Dr. Ted Lucas, and to our accreditation liaison officer, Dr. Dennis Muraoka, for their exemplary work leading us through the WASC accreditation process and ultimately to this incredible, unprecedented achievement.ā
For additional information about CSUCIās Initial Accreditation contact Ceal Potts, communication specialist at CSUCI, 805-437-8940 or cecilia.potts@csuci.edu.
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About 91³Ō¹Ļ
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CIās strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative masterās degrees.Ā Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visitingĀ CI's Social Media.