Accreditation: Institutional Portfolio

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is accredited by the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In June 2004, the commission reaffirmed the university's accreditation to 2014; this ten-year accreditation is the longest accreditation period granted by WASC, an indication that the university's educational and institutional effectiveness meets and, in some areas, exceeds WASC expectations.

In January 2008, the university submitted its special visit report to the Commission. On March 18, 19, and 20, 2008, a WASC site team visited campus to follow up on the University's progress in addressing concerns raised by the Commission in its June 2004 Action Letter and by the WASC site team in their May 2004 final report. In May 2008, the team submitted its special visit report, commending the university for significant progress in some areas while identifying the need for more progress in others.

The June 2008 action letter from the Commission put the university on notice that by Fall 2009, concerns about the doctoral program in Hawaiian and indigenous language and culture revitalization, and about institutional governance would have to be addressed decisively. The College of Hawaiian Language, with the support of the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is now working to resolve the questions raised by the Commission.

A campus-wide undertaking, begun in September 2008, has been to address the issues of institutional governance with respect to curricular matters. A task force has been formed, comprised of the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, the Accreditation Liaison Officer, and representatives of each of the degree-granting colleges, the Graduate Council, and the faculty Congress. Records of the task force deliberations and related materials are posted on the Task Force webpage.

Other relevant materials:

Our institutional web portfolio is a work-in-progress, organized by the Four Standards of our accrediting commission. Here we make available to the entire community the documents, reports, and data which characterize the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, its mission, aspirations, and performance as an institution of higher learning.

Standard 1. Defining Institutional Purposes and Ensuring Educational Objectives

Standard 2. Achieving Educational Objectives through Core Functions

Standard 3. Developing and Applying Resources and Organizational Structures to Ensure Sustainability

Standard 4. Creating an Organization Committed to Learning and Improvement