Changes to the WASC Constitution

The Higher Education Opportunity Act also requires WASC to make changes to the appeals process that is used when institutions wish to appeal an action to terminate accreditation or deny candidacy.

Under current WASC policy, institutions may seek a review of such an action by the Commission, but may not introduce new evidence in support of their argument, if such evidence was not available at the time that the Commission made its decision. If the institution is unsatisfied with the result of the Commission review, it can then appeal to a hearing panel that is comprised of representatives from the Schools, Community College and Senior College Commissions.

According to the new federal regulations, if an institution loses its accreditation because of financial difficulties, it will be provided one final opportunity to present additional financial information prior to the finalization of the appeals process, even if that information was unavailable at the time that the adverse action was taken. Additional changes were also made regarding the authority of the hearing panel. In response, all three accrediting commissions of WASC have approved changes to the appeals process in the WASC Constitution.

A redline version of the appeals process changes may be found on the WASC website at: http://www.wascsenior.org/findit/files/forms/Constitution_Article_VI.pdf