CBU Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Accreditation
Welcome to CBU's Reaffirmation of Accreditation website. The website aims to create a central place to make accreditation and other supporting documents available to the university community and the public. This page provides information related to CBU's accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
In 2019, CBU's regional accreditation through WSCUC was reaffirmed for six years. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the university will conduct a self-study where the institution reviews its compliance with the 2022 Standards of Accreditation. This report will be submitted in early Fall 2024, and the accreditation visit is scheduled for Spring 2025.
Why Is Accreditation Important?
Regional accreditation assures our students, their families, and the entire community that a university is rigorously evaluated and meets or exceeds the accreditation standards. Accreditation is also required for our students to qualify for participation in federal financial aid programs. The accreditation process is more than an administrative hurdle; it is an opportunity for us to discuss what is essential to the university and to focus on reaching those goals. The WSCUC 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.
What Is WSCUC?
The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. Through its review processes, WSCUC confirms that an institution has substantially met the Standards of Accreditation and associated Criteria for Review and, thus, possesses the resources, policies, and practices to achieve its educational goals and has provided evidence of the quality of its educational programs. Accredited institutions are also subject to the conditions established by the Commission, including its policies.
WSCUC Leadership
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WSCUC President: Jamienne Studley
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WSCUC Liaison to CBU: Maureen A. Maloney
Learn More About WSCUC
To learn more about the WASC Senior College and University Commission visit www.wscuc.org.
What Are the Accreditation Standards?
Defining Institutional Mission and Acting with Integrity
The institution defines its mission and establishes educational and student success objectives aligned with that mission. The institution has a clear sense of its essential values, culture, and distinctive elements, and its contributions to society and the public good. It promotes the success of all students and makes explicit its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The institution functions with integrity and transparency.
Achieving Educational Objectives and Student Success
The institution achieves its educational and student success objectives through the core functions of teaching and learning, and through support for student learning, scholarship, and creative activity. It promotes the success of all students and makes explicit its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The institution demonstrates that core functions are performed effectively by evaluating valid and reliable evidence of learning.
Assuring Resources and Organizational Structures
The institution achieves its educational and student success objectives through investments in human, physical, fiscal, technology, and information resources within appropriate organizational and decision-making structures, and consistent with its explicit commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Creating an Institution Committed to Quality Assurance and Improvement
The institution engages in sustained, evidence-based, and participatory reflection about how effectively it is accomplishing its mission, achieving its educational and student success objectives, and realizing its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The institution envisions its future in light of the changing environment of higher education. These activities inform both institutional planning and systematic evaluations of educational effectiveness.
Accreditation Steering Committee Information
The Accreditation Steering Committee is tasked with leading the self-study, guiding any work necessary to improve compliance, and drafting the Institutional Report. Members of the committee were selected based on their experiences and areas of expertise. The committee represents stakeholders, including faculty, staff, administration, and students. The committee is divided into five groups: executive members, working groups 1, 2, 3, and 4. The four working groups are assigned to focus on each standard from WSCUC.
Executive Members
The group’s charge includes the following activities:
▻Communicate accreditation information about accreditation standards and best practices throughout the university.
▻Foster university-wide dialogue on how accreditation standards are being met.
▻Serve as a conduit for constituency input into accreditation reports and responses.
▻Create and monitor plans and timelines for the preparation of all accreditation reports and responses required by WSCUC.
▻Provide leadership in the preparation of reports through final draft approval.
▻Monitor plans and timelines for the remediation of areas in which the University does not fully meet accreditation standards.
Standard Members
The group’s charge includes the following activities:
▻Become familiar with the timeline, key phases, and milestones associated with the accreditation process.
▻Communicate information about accreditation standards and best practices to academic units.
▻Draft documents for standard assigned.
▻Facilitate broad campus participation in the reaffirmation accreditation process.
▻Foster college-wide dialogue on how the university meets or does not meet accreditation standards.
▻Monitor plans and timelines for the remediation of areas where the university does not fully meet accreditation standards.
Elizabeth Morris, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Provost of Educational Effectiveness
Jennifer Riad, MS, Director of Curriculum
Adam Burton, Vice President and General Counsel
Mark Howe, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration
Angela Meluski, Vice President for Marketing and Communication
Charles Sands, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Defining Institutional Mission and Acting with Integrity
Elizabeth Morris, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Provost of Educational Effectiveness
Bruce Stokes, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology and Behavioral Sciences
Kenya Davis-Hayes, Ph.D., Professor of History
Bonjun Koo, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Science
Doug Lainson, Ph.D., Professor of Business and President of Faculty Senate
Amy Miller, Dr.P.H., Professor of Kinesiology
Christopher Morgan, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, School of Christian Ministries
Jonathon Parker, Ph.D., Adjunct, Education
Veola Vasquez, Ph.D., Professor and Diversity Coordinator, PsyD Program
Student Representative
Achieving Educational Objectives and Student Success
Elizabeth Morris, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Provost of Educational Effectiveness
Elisa Shepard, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Provost for Online Education
Karen Bradley, DNP, Professor, Vice President of CBU Health, and Dean of Nursing
Ana Gamez, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Chris Hofschroer, Dean of Students
Heather Hubbert, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Students for Student Care
Katherine Kafford, Ph.D., Professor and Assistant Dean, College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design
Jeff Keneaster, M.Div., Director of Academic Operations-Educational Effectiveness
Gene Moon, DMA, Professor and Director of Orchestral Studies
Joshua Moss, Senior Director of Alumni, Parent & Donor Engagement
Ted Murcray, Ed.D., Professor and Director, The Teaching and Learning Center
Ken Nehrbass. Ph.D., Professor and Director of Assessment
David Pearson, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, College of Health Science
Patrick Schacht, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, Chemical Sciences
Rich Simpson, Ed.D., University Registrar
Robert Shields, Ed.D., Professor and Assistant Director of the Teaching and Learning Center
Student Representative
Assuring Resources and Organizational Structures
Tracy Ward, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Provost for Administration
Jennifer Riad, MS, Director of Curriculum
Daniel Akers, Director of Web Services
Liza Arellano, DSW, Professor, Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director, and Division of Social Work Accreditation Coordinator
Robin Duncan, Ed.D., Professor and Dean of Metcalf School of Education
Tim Gramling, Lp.D., Professor, Vice President of Diversity, and Dean of School of Business
Adele Harrison, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Finance Program
Samantha Naple, MS.Ed., Assistant Director Student Success Coaching
Joe Opris, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Alma Salazar, Director of Graduate Admissions
Craig Shipley, Director of Multimedia Services
Calvin Sparkman, Associate Vice President for Financial Services
Tae Sung, Ph.D., Professor and Dean of Student Success
Student Representative
Creating an Institution Committed to Quality Assurance and Improvement
Wayne Fletcher, Ed.D., Professor and Associate Provost for Academic Services
Steve Neilsen, Ed.D., Dean of Academic Perstistence and Support
Brock Brenneman, Director of Academic Engagement
Brain Davis, Ph.D., Dean of International Programs
John Gill, Ph.D., Professor and Program Coordinator of Bachelor's in Christian Studies (Online)
Zakiya Glasco, MS, Associate Director Student Success Coaching
Jacqueline Gustafson, Ed.D., Professor and Dean of College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Caroline Heine, Ed.D., Associate and Instructional Services Librarian
Joshua Morey, Senior Director of Financial Aid
Brian Niemeier, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research
Erin Smith, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Research
Erika Travis, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, Modern Languages and Literature
Student Represenatative
Important Documents
- Condensed Report for Reaffirmation 2018
- Report of the WSCUC Team 2019
- Commission Action Letter June 2019
The full-length 2018 report is built around eight key ideas:
1. CBU has adequately responded to and addressed previous notices and recommendations
from WSCUC.
2. CBU remains compliant with WSCUC standards.
3. Graduates of CBU represent individuals whose skills, integrity, and sense of purpose
glorify God and distinguish them in the workplace and in the world.
4. Education quality, accountability, and conditions for improvement support the assessment
process at CBU.
5. CBU offers the opportunity to successfully complete a degree that embeds universities
values, academic challenge and a supportive campus environment.
6. Continuous improvement is the product of the assessment processes at CBU.
7. CBU is financially healthy and planning for the future.
8. A focused examination of the Division of Online and Professional Studies (OPS).
The 2022 Interim Report was submitted to show CBU's progress on the commission action letter. It addressed:
1. Alignment of learning outcomes for degrees with the same name offered by different
delivery methods; differentiated stated expectations for undergraduate and graduate
degree programs.
2. Program reviews that reflect sophistication and maturity connoted by deep analysis
and reflection.
3. An analysis of graduate student retention and graduation rates.
4. A formalized debt management policy; multiple budget models reflecting best and
worst case scenarios.
5. Financial reporting that clearly separates operating and non-operating changes
innet assets.
At its meeting on November 4, 2022, the WASC Senior College and University Commission unanimously adopted new Standards for Accreditation for member institutions. The Standards establish the foundational values and broad principles of good practice by which an institution achieves and maintains accreditation with WSCUC. The Standards also form the basis for institutional review. These four Standards, which are further defined and amplified by the Criteria for Review (CFRs), express a commitment to success for all students, ensure institutional quality, and promote institutional cultures of evidence and improvement.
The 2022 Standards are designed to preserve the basic values and structure of the current Standards while advancing quality, accountability, and improvement in service of equitable student learning, student success, and institutional effectiveness. Changes reflect a set of Principles identified early in the process:
1. Students will be at the center of the Standards and of accreditation reviews, with
emphasis in the Standards and CFRs on educational
outcomes achieved in an environment promoting student personal well-being and success.
2. Institutions will be expected to demonstrate evidence of actions and results for
continuous improvement and public accountability.
3. Equity and inclusion, as essential elements of high quality educational and institutional
effectiveness, will be woven appropriately throughout the Standards and CFRs.
4. Standards and CFRs will adhere to the WSCUC philosophy of establishing objectives,
promoting flexibility in application, and allowing institutions to determine how to
achieve them, consistent with their mission and focus (“What” not “How”).
5. When considering changing, adding to, and/or revising Standards and CFRs, the desire
of WSCUC institutions for continuity and
consistency will be balanced with changes necessary to better reflect the current
environment and values of higher education.
6. WSCUC will continue to value and respect the diversity of viewpoints of WSCUC institutions
through this process.