On behalf of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools, let me welcome you to this page on the WASC website that features the protocols and process that define our work with postsecondary institutions in the WASC region. We are grateful to be authorized by the United States Department of Education to accredit institutions that arrange for Title IV funding for their students, and strive to assist in meeting the employment and career goals of the adults they serve.

We are appreciative of the efforts made by postsecondary institutions to instruct students to such competency levels that they are qualified for initial employment and/or career advancement, and we are particularly pleased that so many of these institutions share WASC’s vision for using the accreditation process to fully meet federal compliance expectations and to simultaneously identify gaps in quality that can be addressed with initiatives that ultimately improve service to students.

Postsecondary institutions that receive Title IV student financial aid are required to meet very specific standards based upon federal guidelines overseen by the United States Department of Education. A specialized protocol that correlates to the specific Title IV compliance issues as well as the WASC criteria is available (see Full Self-Study/Visit below).

Please contact the WASC Temecula Office at 951 693-2550 or mailsocal@wasc.org for further information.

Directory of Accredited Postsecondary Title IV Institutions (coming soon)

After reviewing the WASC Conditions of Eligibility interested institutions should complete the Request for WASC Affiliation form and return the completed form to the WASC office. WASC does not accredit for-profit or distance learning institutions.

A $150.00 application fee is required and should accompany the completed form(s).

If you have any questions regarding the accreditation process, please feel free to contact the WASC Temecula office.

Application Fee Policy:

• A $150.00 application fee is required and should be submitted with the completed Request for WASC Affiliation form.
• If the institution withdraws from the application process, the $150.00 fee is nonrefundable.
• If the institution reapplies or postpones the visit to another academic year, an additional $150.00 fee is required.
• If WASC determines that the institution is not eligible for affiliation with WASC, the $150.00 fee will be refunded.

If it is determined that the institution may be eligible for affiliation with WASC, an Initial Visit Application/Description form will be sent for completion that correlates with the following manual:

WASC Title IV Institutions Initial Visit Procedures Manual, 2007-2008 Edition

• Postsecondary Title IV Institutions Accreditation Manual
  

  Note: This document is formatted to be printed as a double-sided document. It can also be printed single-sided; however, please be aware that there will be a number of unnecessary blank pages in the single-sided output.

• Postsecondary Title IV Self-Study Report Template

• Institution Training Presentation
• Visiting Committee Chair and Member Training Presentation

• Annual Compliance Report
  • All Title IV institutions are required to complete an annual compliance report and email it to the WASC Temecula Office (mailsocal@acswasc.org) by September 15 of each year.
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• Substantive Changes
  • WASC Substantive Change Policy
  • Substantive Change Explanation Form