APU Undergoes Accreditation Visit

An accreditation team representing the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visited the Azusa Pacific campus March 26-30 to review the university's academic and co-curricular programs. The visit assessed the institution's response to recommendations for improvement suggested by WASC in 1996. Reviewing standards related to institutional integrity, purpose, planning, administration, faculty and staff, physical and financial resources, student services, and educational programs, the WASC team made five recommendations during their exit briefing, stressing the need for a continued increase in diversity in university programs, faculty research, enrollment management, effective academic assessment tools, and the integration between the Strategic, Master, and Institutional Budget plans.

The self-study process, led by Michael Whyte, Ph.D., associate provost, was presented to the WASC team upon their arrival. "It is exciting to be a part of a process that continues to improve an excellent academic and co-curricular program that is God-honoring," said Whyte. "This helps to make us a better university, and that pleases God."

The preparation for the visit began in August 1999 and will not be officially completed until late June when representatives from APU present the school's response to the recommendations. WASC will then make a final assessment of the institution's accreditation. In the 1991 and 1996 visits, APU received 11 and 7 recommendations, respectively.

The School of Education and Behavioral Studies was reviewed in June by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), following a joint visit with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in April. The NCATE team considered the conceptual framework of both credential and non-credential programs while the CCTC team examined Azusa Pacific's credential program standards.

The visit marked the first by NCATE and the culmination of more than two years of preparation. In a rare achievement, the School of Education and Behavioral Studies met all 20 NCATE standards. "There is a higher degree of professionalism associated with an NCATE-accredited school," said Roger Harrell, Ed.D, associate dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Studies and accreditation facilitator.

In addition, the Department of Graduate Psychology is currently in the application stages of the accreditation process by the American Psychological Association.

Return to In Focus

For comments or story suggestions, email Today at APU.