• WSCUC Newsletter: November 2025

    November 19, 2025 - WSCUC

Table of Contents

 

Message from the President

As we enter a season of reflection and gratitude, I want to thank WSCUC institutional leaders, faculty, and staff whose dedication to student success strengthens our entire region.

Your work informed my discussions with education and policy leaders shaping the future of higher education. In recent weeks, I’ve represented WSCUC member institutions in meetings with leaders in California and on Capitol Hill. In these conversations, I’ve emphasized the commitment to student success that sets WSCUC institutions apart and highlighted the Commission’s outcomes-focused accreditation that supports your work. WSCUC will remain at the table for policy discussions, and we will continue to be in dialogue with you as our sector is tested in the coming months by tectonic shifts in the federal and state regulatory landscape.

Our shared dedication to student success also guided WSCUC’s recent Commission retreat, where Commissioners explored a strategic direction that continues prioritizing student outcomes. To advance this vision, we’re seeking nominations for Commissioners whose expertise reflects the breadth and depth of our membership. Self-nominations are welcome; I encourage you to consider how your perspective could strengthen our collective work.

Thank you for your partnership this year. I wish you a restorative holiday season and look forward to seeing you at ARC2026.

With appreciation,
 
Maria Toyoda​​​​​​
President and CEO
WASC Senior College and University Commission
 

Nominations Invited for WSCUC Commission

The WSCUC Nominating Committee invites nominations for Commissioner terms that will begin July 1, 2026. WSCUC Commissioners advance student success and institutional excellence through accreditation decisions and policy leadership. Nominations are due before January 12, 2026 if nominating someone else. Self-nominations must be received before January 19, 2026. Learn more.
 

WSCUC Vice President Receives CAIR’s Inaugural Trailblazer Award

CAIR has named WSCUC Vice President Stephanie Huie the first-ever recipient of its Trailblazer Award for her forward-thinking leadership in institutional research and data innovation. Dr. Huie has broadened access to meaningful, outcomes-focused data, giving families, institutions, and policymakers a clearer picture of the value of a college degree. Her contributions reflect WSCUC’s commitment to strengthening student success through transparent, actionable evidence. Learn more.
 

Upcoming Events: Designing the Future of Learning webinar and ARC2026

Join WSCUC Thursday, December 4 at 9 a.m. PT for Designing the Future of Learning: Innovation, Quality, and Student Success, a conversation on how higher education is evolving to meet the needs of today’s learners and communities.

Hear from Kathleen deLaski (Education Design Lab), Laurie Dodge (Competency-Based Education Network, C-BEN), and Pierre Dubuc (OpenClassrooms) as they discuss emerging models that combine flexibility, skills-based learning, and measurable outcomes. They will share innovative ideas and practical strategies institutions can use to create new pathways that link learning and work.

Registration will soon open for ARC2026: Mission > Action > Impact happening April 8–10, 2026, in San Francisco. Join us to connect with colleagues, share solutions, and gain actionable insights that move your institution from mission to action to lasting impact.
 

Commission Policy Updates

The Commission seeks public comments on the revised Reapplication after Denial of Candidacy or Initial Accreditation policy. Comments are due to policies@wscuc.org by Friday, January 16, 2026. Learn more.
 

WSCUC Commission Meeting Calendar

  • Commission Meeting
    Feb 11 – 13, 2026
  • Commission Meeting
    June 24 – 26, 2026
  • Commission Retreat
    Nov 4 – 6, 2026