Cal Lutheran earns WASC reaccreditation

Improved student success and fiscal strength noted

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The team found that new initiatives and a campus culture that support individual students contributed to improved student success. 

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – July 20, 2015) The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission has reaffirmed the accreditation of California Lutheran University for the longest possible term of 10 years.

In the final report, the commission applauded the university for having a clearly communicated and shared mission, a cross-campus commitment to helping students succeed and an increasingly strong fiscal situation.

“The (visiting) team commended Cal Lutheran for a strong sense of culture and identity, grounded in the Lutheran faith, as well as openness to multiple religious traditions,” wrote WASC President Mary Ellen Petrisko in her letter announcing the reaccreditation

The team found that new initiatives and a campus culture that support individual students contributed to improved student success. For instance, Cal Lutheran increased its four-year undergraduate graduation rate by 9 percentage points from 2013 to 2014 with help from its 4 to Finish program, which guarantees that students will graduate in four years if they follow certain steps. “Impressively,” Petrisko wrote, “Latina/o student six-year graduate rates are comparable to overall results.”

“The collaboration among a number of dedicated offices and individuals has contributed to the significant overall progress of student success at Cal Lutheran in the last few years,” the team’s report said.

The visiting team commended Cal Lutheran for developing new modes of instruction including online and hybrid courses and providing support to faculty teaching these classes. It reported that the university has made substantial progress in assessing student learning, reviewing programs, and using data to inform decision-making that is “systemic, intentional and meaningful.’”

Enrollment has grown and the university’s endowment has more than doubled in the past five years. “Cal Lutheran has significantly improved the university’s financial health and viability since 2007,” Petrisko wrote.

During the lengthy and rigorous WASC process, Cal Lutheran staff and faculty members compiled comprehensive reports on how the university is meeting objectives, and a visiting team interviewed staff, faculty and students.

Cal Lutheran has consistently received high marks from WASC through the years. The university was accredited in its first academic year, a rare accomplishment.

The university is based in Thousand Oaks with additional locations in Oxnard, Woodland Hills, Westlake Village, Santa Maria and Berkeley. 

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