Accreditation Overview

Every decade, UC Berkeley undergoes accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Much has changed since our last review, including the process and standards by which WASC assesses colleges and universities. The new 2001 WASC self-study process is designed to engage campuses in meaningful self-reflection and self-assessment. It is intended to help us establish our own objectives and assess progress in achieving them, rather than to test our compliance on a standardized, externally generated set of criteria, as under the old accreditation process.

The last WASC accreditation challenged the campus to make undergraduate education a priority and focus. Since then, the Chancellor has created the new senior-level position of Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and asked Vice Provost Christina Maslach to lead the campus accreditation effort. Our ongoing commitment to enhance undergraduate education is a central focus of our accreditation self-study.

The campus accreditation effort involves a broad cross-section of the campus community. We have assembled a Steering Committee, as well as four Working Groups comprised of faculty, students and staff engaged in the self-study effort. Many members of the campus community from outside the committees have provided information and suggestions, as well as reviewed preliminary drafts. Finally, we have convened a Distinguished Advisory Group, whose comments and suggestions on the draft reports have proven invaluable.

This web site makes available all of the key documents and data sources related to our accreditation effort to encourage the broadest possible participation in and dissemination of the results of our collective efforts. We invite you to explore this website and to give us your feedback!