Cal State L.A. Presentations Rated Highly at WASC Annual Meeting

Out of a total of almost 700 evaluations from individual sessions, two Cal State L.A. presentations were among the most highly rated at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, California.

The “General Education Assessment: Faculty Engagement in Multiple Measures of Effectiveness” session was presented by Cal State L.A. faculty members J. Theodore Anagnoson (Goleta, CA resident), professor of political science, Robert Nakamura (Los Angeles resident), associate professor of biological sciences, and Susan Cash (Riverside resident), Acting Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. This session described the faculty role in assessing a large and diverse general education program, the implementation of assessment measures, and the use of assessment results to improve general education. Examples of multiple measures and how results are used to improve the effectiveness of the program were examined.

“The Scorecard Approach: A Model for Creating Cultures of Evidence and Bringing About Institutional Change” session was presented by Tony Ross (South Pasadena resident), vice president of Student Affairs at Cal State L.A., along with presenters from USC, Loyola Marymount University and CSU Dominguez Hills. The session examined a promising approach for creating cultures of evidence using teams of evidence gatherers/analyzers; existing institutional data in a manner that serves as a diagnostic, tactical, and strategic purpose; and a scorecard—a tool for measuring progress towards achieving institutional objectives, particularly pertaining to equitable and exceptional student outcomes.

The meeting, “Educational Effectiveness Moving From Dialogue To Action,” played an important role in providing information about the developments in policies and practices in accreditation review, including communicating student learning outcomes, planning, distance education, program review, educational technology, assessment, and other matters related to educational effectiveness.

For more information on the WASC annual meeting, go to <http://www.wascweb.org/senior/annual.htm>.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is a non-profit corporation, encompassing three accrediting commissions: Accrediting Commission for Schools; Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges; and Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. WASC was formed in 1962 to promote the welfare, interests, and development of education in the Western Region. Its chief goals are to: promote institutional engagement with issues of educational effectiveness and student learning; develop a culture of evidence that informs decision-making; and foster active interchange among public and independent institutions.

Contact: Carol Selkin, Media Relations Director, (323) 343-3044