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Standard 1
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Defining Institutional Purposes and Ensuring Educational Objectives

 

•  		Institutional Purposes

•  		Integrity

The institution defines its purposes and establishes educational objectives aligned with its purposes and character.  It has a clear and conscious sense of its essential values and character, its distinctive elements, its place in the higher education community, and its relationship to society at large. Through its purposes and educational objectives, the institution dedicates itself to higher learning, the search for truth, and the dissemination of knowledge. The institution functions with integrity and autonomy.

UC Davis Standard 1 Reflective Essay

Institutional Purposes
Click each of the Criteria for Review to read the UC Davis response.

1.1-The institution's formally approved statements of purpose and operational practices are appropriate for an institution of higher education and clearly define its essential values and character.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has a published mission statement that clearly describes its purposes. The institution’s purposes fall within recognized academic areas and/or disciplines, or are subject to peer review within the framework of generally recognized academic disciplines or areas of practice.

1.2-Educational objectives are clearly recognized throughout the institution and are consistent with stated purposes. The institution has developed indicators and evidence to ascertain the level of achievement of its purposes and educational objectives.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has published educational objectives that are consistent with its purposes.

1.3-The institution's leadership creates and sustains a leadership system at all levels that is marked by high performance, appropriate responsibility, and accountability.

Integrity
Click each of the Criteria for Review to read the UC Davis response.

1.4-The institution publicly states its commitment to academic freedom for faculty, staff, and students, and acts accordingly. This commitment affirms that those in the academy are free to share their convictions and responsible conclusions with their colleagues and students in their teaching and in their writing.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has published or has readily-available policies on academic freedom. For those institutions that strive to instill specific beliefs and world views, policies clearly state conditions, and ensure these conditions are consistent with academic freedom. Due Process procedures are disseminated, demonstrating that faculty and students are protected in their quest for truth.

1.5-Consistent with its purposes and character, the institution demonstrates an appropriate response to the increasing diversity in society through its policies, its educational and co-curricular programs, and its administrative and organizational practices.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has demonstrated institutional commitment to the principles enunciated in the WASC Statement on Diversity.

1.6-Even when supported by or affiliated with political, corporate, or religious organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose and operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has no history of interference in substantive decisions or educational functions by political, religious, corporate, or other external bodies outside the institution’s own governance arrangements.

1.7-The institution truthfully represents its academic goals, programs, and services to students and to the larger public; demonstrates that its academic programs can be completed in a timely fashion; and treats students fairly and equitably through established policies and procedures addressing student conduct, grievances, human subjects in research, and refunds.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has published or readily-available policies on student grievances and complaints, refunds, etc. and has no history of adverse findings against it with respect to violation of these policies. Records of student complaints are maintained for a six-year period. The institution clearly defines and distinguishes between the different types of credits it offers and between degree and non-degree credit, and accurately identifies the type and meaning of the credit awarded in its transcripts.

1.8-The institution exhibits integrity in its operations as demonstrated by the implementation of appropriate policies, sound business practices, timely and fair responses to complaints and grievances, and regular evaluation of its performance in these areas.

WASC Guidelines
The institution has published or readily-available grievance procedures for faculty, staff, and students. Its finances are regularly audited by external agencies.

1.9-The institution is committed to honest and open communication with the Accrediting Commission, to undertaking the accreditation review process with seriousness and candor, and to abiding by Commission policies and procedures, including all substantive change policies.

To Standard 2: Achieving Educational Objective Through Core Functions


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Modified: 01/17/2006 11:36:41 AM
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