Author: Kelly Neukom
Occidental recently finished the first step of its WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation process, which will last until 2011. Dean Eric Frank held what he called the “first of a series of conversations” about the process on Feb. 21. “The WASC process gauges the health of the institution in a variety of ways,” Frank said. “The most useful is the process of discovery that asks Oxy to ask questions of itself-where we are, where we’re going and why we’re going there.”
The WASC committee administered a survey of 150 questions to faculty, staff, administration, students and trustees in the fall, which was sent to the WASC headquarters in Oakland on Oct. 15. The questions asked if certain mission statements were “fully met,” “minimally met” or “not met.” “If [those who took the survey] answered either ‘fully met’ or ‘minimally met,’ that means that we’re moving in the right direction,” Frank said. “If they answered ‘not met,’ that means those areas need attention.”
For example, with the statement “Occidental demonstrates its commitment to diversity through its programs,” over 75 percent of each group (faculty, staff, administration and students) answered either “fully met” or “minimally met.” However, there was a strong indication that the communication and planning of the school needed improvement. With the statement “our fiscal resources are aligned with our institutional objectives,” only five percent of the faculty answered “fully met.” Forty-four percent answered “not met.” The five goals identified by a steering committee-made up of members of the Oxy community-as “worthwhile to focus on” were communication, mission, community, planning and assessment. These goals become “a kind of process” that Oxy can use to better itself.
An institutional proposal that was submitted in October identified three themes (or research projects) that are focused and specific to Oxy in order to affect institutional change. These themes are “improving governance,” “What is the nature of a 24/7 residential educational institution in LA?” and “How can we evaluate and improve our senior comprehensive experience?”
The next step of the process is the Capacity and Preparatory Review, which will take place in 2009. The main inquiry answered in this step is whether or not Occidental has the capacity to be educationally effective and improve upon its five goals. This is answered by evaluating Oxy through four WASC standards. The steering committee will meet regularly this spring in order to oversee all activities of this step. The committee will also maintain a website with all relevant materials of the process, including an area for visitors to post their feedback.
The third step of accreditation is Educational Effectiveness, which will take place in 2011. This step will determine if Oxy was effective in improving upon the five goals determined in 2008.
The WASC process is different from previous ones in that “it helps our specific institution with its own specific needs, which has never been done before,” Frank said.
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