by Rosie Sinapi
Editor in Chief
University of La Verne academics received a boost from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) at the school’s recent exit interview. Although no report will be in writing until at least this fall, WASC and ULV officials are pleased with the improved state of the school.
When WASC visited La Verne in 1991, the school was given a list of seven improvements that needed to be made before WASC’s 1995 interim visit. The group returned again in February to reevaluate the state of the school.
The concerns raised by WASC in 1991 were: the rewriting of the Mission Statement so it includes the total University population, instead of responding only to traditional students; improving general education requirements for undergraduates; increasing the number of full-time off-campus faculty; improving library usefulness and encouraging the students to use the facility; responding to the need for diversity in faculty and curriculum; and maintaining the financial stability of the University.
According to notes taken at the exit interview, not only has La Verne met those requirements, they have excelled in their off-campus programs. The success is attributed to an efficient management system.
Dr. Bill Cook’s notes said WASC saw “significant and substantive development, trajectory of greater and greater success, management system impressive, attention to students is awesome, and [has] never seen such a complete system anywhere.”
Of the seven concerns WASC wanted to see improvement upon, ULV has projected a clear and direct response.
The University’s revised mission met WASC standards. Faculty roles were changed. Collegial reviews developed. Orientation has improved. Faculty and student handbooks are strongly prepared, with the Mission Statement clearly present in each document.
The WASC team did not agree with the 1991 assessment of La Verne’s doctoral programs. It is “beautifully designed and competently delivered” according to the notes.
Strategic planning was the key to the improvement as seen in the Wilson Library Development. After receiving a hard hat tour of the site, the team was filled with praise.
Likewise, the team found the financial support of the University greatly improved. La Verne, which looked as if it may have had to close down in the ‘80s, showed growth in both endowment and development funding.
WASC recognized another area of improvement, the growth of satellite programs and extensions. Dr. Cook and WASC are currently in Greece, evaluating the Athens campus.
President Stephen Morgan believes the success of the visit comes from the hard work provided by the whole community. Although he is thankful for the efforts, he believes improvement is still needed.
