WSCUC Commissioners play crucial roles in furthering excellence, equity, and engagement in higher education, promoting student success while participating in policy and decision making. The Nominating Committee invites nominations from persons who are interested in serving, or nominating someone to serve, as a Commissioner.

Service on the Commission requires a serious commitment. The Commission meets three times a year (February, June, and November) with each meeting absorbing 2 1/2 days. Preparation is substantial, requiring review of team reports and policy materials. Each Commissioner also serves on one or more Commission committee(s). Commissioners are invited, and find it valuable, to serve occasionally as members of accrediting teams and to attend WSCUC educational programs.

Commissioners are expected to be both open and rigorous in the application of Commission Standards. Institutional Commissioners are drawn from among presidents/CEOs, faculty, and administrators. Because of the diversity of member institutions in terms of size, mission, affiliation, and complexity, it is important to have Commissioners who are sensitive to the rich range of institutions served by the Commission and their diverse student bodies. Commissioners do not serve as representatives of any sector, institutional type, or ideology. Prior service on accrediting teams is not required but is valuable and strongly recommended.

WSCUC expects to present a slate of three candidates this year. The top priorities for the Nominating Committee in this cycle are candidates:

1. who will contribute to the Commission’s diversity, including diversity of race, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, disability status, and other underrepresented backgrounds.
2. with expertise in equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism leadership, pedagogy, scholarship, and programming.
3. with expertise in financial matters, including institutional financial planning, management, and sustainability, and financial, legal, or business analysis relevant to higher education and complex business arrangements and transactions.

In addition, all nominees should have a basic interest in accreditation, be committed to student success in higher education, and demonstrate strong experience, independence, and responsibility.

Alongside representatives of WSCUC-accredited institutions, a minimum of 1/7 of the commission’s total membership are public members. A public member is defined by federal regulation as a person who are not:

1. An employee, member of the governing board, owner, or shareholder of, or consultant to, an institution that either is accredited or in candidacy or has applied for accreditation.
2. A member of any trade association or membership organization related to, affiliated with, or associated with the agency.
3. A spouse, parent, child, or sibling of an individual who meets the definitions listed above.

As a nominator, you must:

1. Contact nominee to confirm his/her willingness to serve.
2. Email the following two items to: kmatarrese@wscuc.org
• a completed Nomination Form
• the nominee’s curriculum vitae.

The nomination period ends December 31, 2021

On behalf of the WSCUC Nominating Committee (Four CEOs of WSCUC-accredited institutions, Commission Chair, Vice Chair and two current or past commissioners):

• President Soraya Coley, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Chair
• President Stephen Beal, California College of the Arts
• President Bob Brower, Point Loma Nazarene
• President David Lassner, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
• Phillip Doolittle, University of Massachusetts Global, Chair, WSCUC Commission
• Tracy Tambascia, University of Southern California, Vice Chair, WSCUC Commission
• Leo Martinez, US Hastings College of the Law, WSCUC Commission Secretary
• Leah Williams, Former WSCUC Commissioner and Public Member