WSCUC Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Timely, relevant information related to the University of San Francisco's WSCUC Reaffirmation of Accreditation Process will be posted on this page. In particular, you will find:
- Reaccreditation Process 2016 - Present
- WSCUC Review Team Report
- WSCUC Commission Action Letter
- Action Plans
- Timeline
- Communication
Reaccreditation Process 2016 - Present
In 2016, the University of San Francisco began actively engaging in a self-study in support of the reaffirmation of accreditation process with our accreditor, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The overriding purpose of WSCUC accreditation is to assure stakeholders that a WSCUC-accredited institution has been rigorously evaluated and that it meets or exceeds the criteria required to maintain accreditation. In addition, the accreditation process is designed to build a culture of evidence, promote a commitment to institutional improvement, validate institutional integrity, and provide feedback that improves the accreditation process itself.
In March 2018, USF submitted an Institutional Report that demonstrated how the University community works collectively to further its mission, vision and values and to ensure educational quality and student success in an evidence-based culture of improvement.
The self-study culminated in an Accreditation Visit on October 8 - 10, 2018 with a review team comprised of peer reviewers and a WSCUC representative. The review team verbally presented draft commendations and recommendations at the end of visit and USF received the WSCUC Review Team Report on November 30, 2018, which set out the team's final recommendations.
On March 4, 2019, the WSCUC Commission acted to reaffirm USF’s accreditation for a period of ten years.
An Interim Report addressing progress on issues identified by the WSCUC Commission was submitted on November 1, 2023. The next reaffirmation review will begin with the Offsite Review in spring 2028 and the Accreditation Visit in fall 2028.
This page will be regularly updated with the action plans and the progress made on them.
WSCUC Review Team Report & Action Letter
Action Plans
In response to the following WSCUC Accreditation Team's recommendations, action plans are currently in development. Tasks will be added to the action plans and progress on those tasks will be updated as appropriate.
| Recommendation | point person(S) | action plan |
|---|---|---|
| Develop and articulate strategic goals and objectives to guide initiatives and resource development that align with the University mission and a vision of the future (CFRs 3.7 4.5, 4.6, 4.7) | Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. President |
Strategic Planning - Updated 10/19/23 |
| Develop a formal deliberative body, independent of the Faculty Association Policy Boards, to establish shared governance that will improve lines of communication and ensure participatory decision-making (CFRs 2.4, 3.10, 4.5, 4.6) | Elieen Fung Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs |
Faculty Governance Action Plan - Updated 10/19/23 |
| Address pressing issues facing the Law School, including permanent leadership, admissions profile, improvement in the bar passage rate, fiscal stability, and the placement of graduates (CFRs 1.6, 2.1, 2.6, 2.10-2.14, 4.4, 4.5) |
Elieen Fung Susan Freiwald |
School of Law Action Plan - Updated 10/19/23 |
| Build expertise in program review and planning at the department and program level, and support professional development for the assessment of learning outcomes in both curricular and co-curricular programs (CFRs 3.4, 4.4) |
Rebecca Hong Deborah L. Panter |
Program Review & Assessment Action Plan - Updated 10/19/23 |
| Develop formal, timely and informative channels of communication that allow for advice and dialogue across the campus prior to major decision-making and implementation (CFRs 3.7, 4.2, 4.3) |
Ellen Ryder Deborah L. Panter |
Communication Action Plan - Updated 10/19/23 |
| Improve methods of systematically surveying alumni in order to create a fuller picture of the impact of a USF education (CFR 4.1) |
Lindsey McClenahan
|
Alumni Data Action Plan - Updated 10/19/23 |
Communication
- Reaffirmation of WSCUC Accreditation - Provost Heller's email to the University Community (March 20, 2019)
- USF Response to Team Report - Fr. Fitzgerald's Letter to WSCUC in response to the Team Report (January 14, 2019)
- Next Steps with USF's Reaccreditation - Fr. Fitzgerald's E-mail to the University Community (October 18, 2018)