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Accreditation Standards and Criteria for Review

Accreditation Standards serve as a foundation and framework "to guide institutions in self review as a basis for assessing institutional performance and to identify needed areas of improvement." Below you will find a rich variety of campus and system-wide links related to WASC Accreditation Standards and Criteria. 2008 revisions to the Criteria for Review are noted in red.

Standard 4: Creating an Organization Committed to Learning and Improvement


The institution conducts sustained, evidence-based, and participatory discussions about how effectively it is accomplishing its purposes and achieving its educational objectives. These activities inform both institutional planning and systematic evaluations of educational effectiveness. The results of institutional inquiry, research, and data collection are used to establish priorities at different levels of the institution, and to revise institutional purposes, structures, and approaches to teaching, learning, and scholarly work.

Criteria for Review (CFR):

  1. CFR 4.1:  The institution periodically engages its multiple consistencies in institutional reflection and planning processes which assess its strategic position; articulate priorities; examine the alignment of its purposes, core functions and resources; and define the future direction of the institution.
    • Policy and Procedure for Review of Undergraduate Programs

      The UCSD Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) has responsibility for review of undergraduate programs.

      Academic Senate
    • Administrative Procedures for Review of Undergraduate Programs

      In conjunction with the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP), the office of the Associate Vice Chancellor - Undergraduate Education administers the review process.

      Academic Affairs
    • UCSD's Six Colleges: Core Curricula and General Education Requirements

      Find out about the core curriculum and General Education requirements for each of UCSD's six colleges.

      TritonLink
    • UCSD Self-Study for Reaffirmation of Accreditation, February 1998

      This document represents a key element of a community experiment. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) sponsored a series of workshops held during the 1995-96 academic year to develop a new process for reaffirming the regional institutional accreditation of major research universities that would meet the need for public accountability while being more relevant, useful, and economical for the campuses.

      UC San Diego
    • University Center/ Sixth College Neighborhoods Planning Study

      The University Center / Sixth College Neighborhoods Planning Study is intended to guide development of the core of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus. The study addresses significant changes that have occurred or are planned for the University Center and Sixth College neighborhoods since completion of the previous study in 1992-an increase in the development program for new buildings to 1.32 times the 1992 study level, the location of a permanent home for Sixth College, and the introduction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) rail lines with a station in Pepper Canyon.

      Physical Planning
    • Annual Reports of the Standing Committees

      This index page lists annual reports of standing committees by year.

      Academic Senate
    • Senate Council

      This committee oversees the business of the Academic Senate and shall consider issues of general interest to the faculty. It monitors and adjusts the work of the Senate's committees, and advises the Chair of the Division about campus business.

      Academic Senate
    • Senate-Administration Council

      This committee facilitates cooperation between the Academic Senate and the administration.

      Academic Senate
    • Student Life

      The purpose of Student Life is to foster the development of students beyond the classroom, build community on campus, encourage involvement in student life, meet the daily needs of students through the provision of services and facilities, advocate the needs of students to campus leaders, foster student pride and affiliation with UCSD, and assist the university in its efforts to recruit and retain students.

      Student Affairs
    • Chancellor’s Leadership Team

      The future direction of the university is discussed at all leadership levels.

      Office of the Chancellor
    • Council on Undergraduate Education

      This group meets quarterly to share ideas and enhance undergraduate education.

      Academic Affairs
    • Academic Leadership

      The Senior Vice Chancellor meets with Deans, Chairs, and Provosts.

      Academic Affairs
    • Institutional Research (IR)

      IR provides public data and reports on a wide variety of topics pertaining to education and other campus data elements.

      Institutional Research
    • Representative Assembly

      This is the legislative body of the San Diego Division and consists of 86 members.

      Academic Senate
    • Colleges & the Organization of Department and Program Advisors (ODAPA)

      College Academic Deans of Advising and Undergraduate Student Affairs Advisors meet quarterly to discuss undergraduate education issues.

      Academic Affairs / Student Affairs
    • Dean of Graduate Studies

      Meets with Vice Chairs of Graduate Programs and Program Directors to improve graduate education.

      Academic Affairs
    • Enrollment Planning Committee

      Discusses enrollment projections and provides recommendations for enrollment objectives.

      Office of the Chancellor
    • Academic Senate Faculty Committee

      Listing of senate committees – representing faculty’s shared governance.

      Academic Senate
    • UCOP Accountability Reports and Indicators

      Includes public data on Student Success, Access and Affordability.

      UCOP
    • Undergraduate Student Surveys

      Listing of various student surveys

      Student Research and Information / Student Affairs

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  2. CFR 4.2:  Planning processes at the institution define and, to the extent possible, align academic, personnel, fiscal, physical, and technological needs with the strategic objectives and priorities of the institution.
    • Committee on Planning and Budget

      This committee consists of seven ordinary members serving three year staggered terms, and confers with and advises the Chancellor, other administrative agencies and the Senate on planning, budget, and resource allocations.

      Academic Senate
    • University of California Student Association (UCSA)

      Information of the University of California Student Association.

      UCSA
    • UCSD General Campus Organized Research Unit Policy and Procedures

      An Organized Research Unit (ORU) is an academic unit the University has established to provide a supportive infrastructure for interdisciplinary research complementary to the academic goals of departments of instruction and research.

      Research Affairs
    • Committee on Academic Information Technology

      This committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Chancellor and to the Division concerning policies governing the development and management of information technology for instruction, research, and for the needs of the campus as a whole.

      Academic Senate
    • UCSD Registration Fee Advisory Committee

      The UCSD Registration Fee Advisory Committee (RFAC) is charged with evaluating Registration Fee-Funded Units and making recommendations on allocations of the Registration Fee.

      UC San Diego
    • Planning and Budget Subcommittee on Campus Budget

      The subcommittee reports to the Committee on Planning and Budget and is responsible for developing a substantive, long-term understanding of the campus budget and budget-setting processes.

      Academic Senate
    • Committee on Educational Policy (CEP)

      This committee reviews and approves educational policy and curriculum.

      Academic Senate
    • Graduate Council

      This Senate committee is responsible for a wide range of issues pertaining to graduate studies.

      Academic Senate
    • Program Review Committee (PRC)

      Their charge is to review all instructional, research, and public service programs of the General Campus, as well as all supporting programs, such as libraries and academic computing.

      Academic Affairs
    • Library Committee

      This is an advisory committee to the Chancellor and UC President.

      Academic Senate
    • Institutional Research (IR)

      Institutional Research is a unit within the office of Campus Planning and provides public data and reports on a wide variety of topics pertaining to education.

      UC San Diego
    • UCOP Accountability Reports and Indicators

      Includes public data on Student Success, Access and Affordability.

      UCOP
    • UC San Diego Profile and Accountability Website

      Summary of campus facts and highlights

      UC San Diego

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  3. CFR 4.3:  Planning processes are informed by appropriately defined and analyzed quantitative data, and include consideration of evidence of educational effectiveness, including student learning.

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  4. CFR 4.4:  The institution employs a deliberate set of quality assurance processes at each level of institutional functioning, including new curriculum and program approval processes, periodic program review, ongoing evaluation, and data collection. These processes include assessing effectiveness, tracking results over time, and using comparative data from external sources, and improving structures, processes, curricula, and pedagogy.

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  5. CFR 4.5:  The institution has institutional research capacity consistent with its purpose and objectives. Institutional research addresses strategic data needs, is disseminated in a timely manner, and is incorporated in institutional review and decision-making processes. Included in the institutional research function is the identification of indicators and collection of appropriate data to support the assessment of student learning consistent with the institution's purposes and educational objectives. Periodic reviews are conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the research function and the suitability and usefulness of data. Guideline: The institution exhibits existence of clear institutional research capacities with appropriate reporting lines and support appropriate to the institution's size and scope. Institutional research or equivalent databases are developed that are sufficient to meet all external reporting needs (e.g., IPEDS), and there are appropriate ways to access or disseminate this information through publications, reports, and widely-accessible databases.
    • Student Research & Information

      The Student Research & Information web page is the official source of undergraduate admission, enrollment, and graduation statistics.

      UC San Diego
    • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey Data

      IPEDS is the core postsecondary education data collection program for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). IPEDS comprises nine surveys, covering student, personnel and financial data, collected during three separate periods. Analysts in IR&C's Data Warehouse and Corporate Systems unit coordinate all responses for the ten campuses and the Office of the President. Copies of recent submissions are provided.

      UCOP
    • Degrees Conferred

      These statistics provide information about students' time to degree and academic performance.

      Student Research & Information
    • Data Warehouse Overview

      The Data Warehouse (DW) allows access to a read-only central repository of campus data, including data generated through the campus financial (IFIS), student (ISIS), and payroll/ personnel (PPS) systems.

      Blink
    • DataLink

      DataLink allows users to search data models and view the glossary and SQL library.

      Blink
    • Data Refresh Information

      Business Systems allows users with a logon and password to view data online.

      Blink
    • Institutional Research (IR)

      This is a unit within the office of Campus Planning and provides public data and reports on a wide variety of topics pertaining to education.

      UC San Diego
    • StatFinder

      Undergraduate admissions, enrollment, persistence, and graduation statistics

      UCOP

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  6. CFR 4.6:  Leadership at all levels is committed to improvement based on the results of the process of inquiry, evaluation and assessment used throughout the institution. The faculty take responsibility for evaluating the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process and use the results for improvement. Assessments of the campus environment in support of academic and co-curricular objectives are also undertaken and used, and are incorporated into institutional planning. Guideline: The institution has clear, well-established policies and practices for gathering and analyzing information that leads to a culture of evidence and improvement.

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  7. CFR 4.7:  The institution, with significant faculty involvement, engages in ongoing inquiry into the processes of teaching and learning, as well as into the conditions and practices that promote the kinds and levels of learning intended by the institution. The outcomes of such inquiries are applied to the design of curricula, the design, and practice of pedagogy, and to the improvement of evaluation means and methodology.
    • Tenure Review Process

      The tenure review, which generally occurs in the sixth or seventh year, leads to the Chancellor’s final decision on whether or not to grant tenure.

      UCOP
    • Academic Senate

      The Academic Senate is one of three branches in the system of shared governance in the University of California: The Board of Regents, which sets broad policy; the Administration, which directs the organization of the University and its finances; and the Academic Senate, which directs the educational function and provides faculty advice to both the Regents and the Administration. According to the Standing Orders of the Regents, the Academic Senate exercises direct control over the authorization and supervision of all courses and curricula, determination of admission and graduation requirements, and approval of all manuscripts published by the University of California Press.

      Academic Senate
    • The Report of the Senate-Administration Task Force to Examine Program Reviews

      This Senate-Administration task force report is on examining program reviews.

      Academic Affairs
    • Language Instruction Coordinating Committee

      This is an example of a faculty committee charged to address an educational topic.

      Academic Senate
    • Information Literacy Workgroup

      This is an example of a faculty committee charged to address an educational topic.

      Academic Senate / Academic Affairs
    • Representative Assembly

      This is the legislative body of the San Diego Division and consists of 86 members .

      Academic Senate
    • Council on Undergraduate Education

      This group meets quarterly to share ideas and enhance undergraduate education.

      Academic Affairs
    • UCOP Accountability Reports and Indicators

      Includes public data on Student Success, Access and Affordability.

      UCOP
    • Academic Senate - Admissions Committee

      Example of a senate committee charged to address issues pertaining to admissions.

      Academic Senate
    • Academic Senate- Library Committee

      Example of a senate committee charged to address issues pertaining to the libraries.

      Academic Senate
    • Student Learning Objectives

      Webpage listing of student learning objectives.

      Academic Affairs
    • OASIS - Student Support Services

      On campus learning center providing free individual and group tutoring assistance.

      Student Affairs
    • Physics Tutorial Center

      Example of a department's free drop-in tutoring service.

      Department of Physics

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  8. CFR 4.8:  Appropriate stakeholders, including alumni, employers, practitioners, and others defined by the institution, are involved in the assessment of the effectiveness of educational programs.
    • Career Access Network

      Career Access Network (CAN) is a group of alumni volunteers who are ready to be contacted for career advice, informational interviews and professional networking.

      UCSD Alumni Association
    • Student Research & Information

      The Student Research & Information web page is the official source of undergraduate admission, enrollment, and graduation statistics.

      UC San Diego
    • Faculty Mentor Program

      The Faculty Mentor Program offers invaluable research experience to all junior or seniors with a GPA of 2.7 or higher who have the desire to prepare for graduate or professional school.

      OAEP
    • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)

      Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) is the recognized U.S. accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology.

      Jacobs School of Engineering
    • Port Triton

      Learn everything you need to know about the job/internship listings - who is eligible, how to access the listings and perform searches, how to apply as well as where to find campus jobs.

      Career Center
    • Internship SuperSite

      This page provides students with links to job opportunities, internship listings, and other services and resources.

      Career Center
    • Teams in Engineering Service

      Teams In Engineering Service is an innovative service-learning academic program putting UCSD undergraduates and their technical and creative skills to work for San Diego non-profit organizations.

      UC San Diego
    • Alumni Association

      Students' connection to the campus.

      External Relations
    • Career Services

      Provides students with an array of career, graduate school and professional school guidance.

      Student Affairs
    • Student Surveys

      List of surveys conducted on campus – results are accessible on the web.

      Student Research & Information / Student Affairs
    • General Education in the 21st Century

      A Report of the University of California Commission on General Education.

      Center for Studies in Higher Education - Berkeley
    • Physics Committee on Education Policy

      Example of departmental academic committees.

      Department of Physics

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