WSCUC Accreditation

Occidental College completed the process of successful reaffirmation of accreditation with our institutional accrediting agency, WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in 2022.

WSCUC Accreditation Cycle: Reaffirmation 2022 - 2030

Occidental College was first accredited by WSCUC in 1949, and our most recent reaffirmation cycle was 2012 to 2022. In 2021, Occidental began preparations for the 2022 institutional report and site visit. The college submitted a Thematic Pathway for Reaffirmation Report (TPR) that focused on its unique strengths in providing an urban liberal arts education and co-curricular experiences to students. The WSCUC peer review team conducted its site visit on March 30–April 1, 2022. On July 11, 2022, WSCUC reaffirmed Occidental for an eight year term. The Commission Action Letter and Team Report are publicly available on the WSCUC site to read/download. Occidental received the following commendations:

  1. A dedicated faculty and staff that embrace and support the four cornerstones of Occidental’s mission: excellence, equity, community, and service.
  2. The College’s Culture of Care philosophy that supports an individualized approach to student success and wellness.
  3. The work of the CCBL in moving toward an institution-wide structure for community-based engagement.
  4. The building of meaningful and long-term reciprocal relationships with a wide array of community partners to effect community-based learning for students.

Special Visit: Spring 2026

A Special Visit will take place in March/April 2026. The planning and preparation has been led by the Accreditation and Assessment Committee. Under their guidance and with support and collaboration from Senior Management, Occidental has implemented an institution-wide approach to addressing four areas noted by the WSCUC Commision. Extensive planning, resourcing, collaboration, and assessment across the college is underway to support the improvement of these four interdependent areas.

  1. Articulation of strategic planning priorities and alignment of planning objectives with resources and defining future directions
  2. Implementation of an institution-wide structure to assess student learning
  3. Dedication of resources to increase student success and inclusive excellence
  4. Implementation of the Urban Liberal Arts Experience

Component 1: Introduction: Context, Response to Previous Commission Actions

Component 2: Report Preparation

Component 3: Response to Commission Actions

     Section 1: Connecting Assessment to Strategic and Resource Planning

     Section 2: Integrated Strategic Planning

     Section 3: Assessment of Student Learning

     Section 4: Student Success and Inclusive Excellence

     Section 5: The Urban Liberal Arts Experience

Component 4: Self-Assessment, Change, Future Direction

Lex Sanderson, Director of Accreditation & Institutional Assessment, Accreditation Liaison Officer

Andrew Udit, Professor & Department Chair of Biochemistry, Faculty Director of Assessment

Jackie Cameron, Director of Institutional Research 

Kristi Allen, AVP of Institutional Planning

Kathryn Leonard, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College; Professor of Computer Science

Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff

Marcus Rodrigez, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement

Vivian Garay Santiago, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Lex Sanderson, Director of Accreditation & Institutional Assessment, Accreditation Liaison Officer

Andrew Udit, Professor & Department Chair of Biochemistry, Faculty Director of Assessment

Jackie Cameron, Director of Institutional Research 

Kristi Allen, AVP of Institutional Planning

Kathryn Leonard, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College; Professor of Computer Science

Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff

Sharla Fett, Professor of American History

  • Develop and support sustainable and continuous structure for institution-wide assessment, including, learning outcomes and objectives for academic programs, core programs, co-curricular areas, functional areas and departments with alignment to the institutional goals and college wide learning goals.
  • Develop, guide, and maintain institutional wide assessment of the Urban Liberal Arts Experience and implementation of the Integrated Strategic Plan.
  • Work to prioritize and socialize the importance of accreditation beyond an external need, but a tool for internal continuous improvements
  • Assist ALO organizing preparation of WSCUC reports and visits and incorporate other stakeholders into the process.
  • Ensure the college meets WSCUC standards. When necessary, drive manageable institutional change to ensure the college continues to meet standards and related compliance issues.

Contributors

 

Brigette Young, Associate Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement

Dana Brandsey, Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement

Celestina Castillo, Director, Center for Community Engagement

Jamila Chambers, Executive Director of Career Center

Jillian Jacobs-Edmondson, Assistant Director, Career Education & Advising

PJ Lutz, Assistant Director, Employer Engagement and Recruiting

Ed Johnson, Director of Academic Advising Coordinator, Core Program, Affiliated Faculty in Music History

Mikaeala Dela Cruz, Oxy Student 

Vanessa Gonzalez Wright, Director Intercultural Community Center

Sarah Pickle, College Librarian

Brian Chambers, Sr. Director of Collections, Systems and Services

Meldia Yesayan, Director, Oxy Arts

Frankie Fleming, Manager of Education and Community Engagement, Oxy Arts

Marcus Rodriguez, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement

Martha Matsuoka, Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy; Executive Director, Urban & Environmental Policy Institute

Taina Morales, Assistant Director, Student and Community Engagement

 

Andrew Udit, Professor & Department Chair of Biochemistry, Faculty Director of Assessment

Michael Shelton, Professor, Spanish and French Studies

Carmel Levitan, Professor, Cognitive Science

Lex Sanderson, Director of Accreditation & Institutional Assessment, Accreditation Liaison Officer

 

Evelyn Chan, Nurse Practitioner, Director of Medical Services

Alejandro Aguirre, LMFT,  Director of Counseling Services

Laura Fettig, MSW, Health Promotion Specialist

Lizzy Denny, Project SAFE Director and Survivor Advocate

stephani candelaria, Project SAFE Program Coordinator & Survivor Advocate

Michelle Obergfoll, Director of Disability Services & Student Support

Sabrina Willison, Associate Director, Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement: Orientation and Student Development

Clair Morrissey, Professor, Philosophy

Igor Logvinenko, Associate Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs, Director of Undergraduate Research Center

 

Tom Stritikus, President of the College

Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff

Suzy LaCroix, Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Amos Himmelstein, Vice President for Finance, Planning and Operations, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer

Vivian Garay Santiago, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Kathryn Leonard, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College; Professor of Computer Science

Laura Fettig, MSW, Health Promotion Specialist

Andrew Guerrero, JEID Education Specialist

Oswaldo Lopez Jr., Director, Upward Bound

Taina Morales, Assistant Director, Student and Community Engagement

Shanda Ness, Director of Athletics

Tahn Bae Park, Assistant Dean for Student Support and Director of Restorative Practices

Isaiah J. Thomas, Ed.D., Assistant Dean of Students; Director of Residential Education, Housing Services and Student Conduct

Celestina Castillo, Director, Center for Community Engagement

David Kasunic, Director of the John Branca Institute for Music; Associate Professor, Music

Brandon Lehr, Interim Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs; Associate Professor, Economics

Miao “Kat” Wang, Director, Pre-Health Advising

David Caldwell, Director of Facilities Management

Contact Accreditation & Institutional Assessment
AGC Administrative Center

1st Floor

For accreditation and assessment inquiries: asanderson@oxy.edu

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