UC Riverside is completing the final steps of its reaccreditation with a campus visit from October 28-30 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or WASC.
The visit from the WASC Senior College and University Commission team follows a two-year process that began in 2024.
UCR has been accredited since 1956 and typically must be reaccredited every six to 10 years. It was most recently reaccredited in 2018.
“Accreditation is important for multiple reasons,” said Ken Baerenklau, associate provost and WASC Accreditation Liaison Officer. “It signals to students, parents, peers, state and local governments, and the public at large that UCR is a high-quality institution.”
It also acts as an important element of self-governance and regulation for higher education institutions and certifies eligibility for federal funding for a variety of programs including federal financial aid for students.
The key steps of the reaccreditation process include a self-study by UCR in which the campus evaluated itself against standards and criteria followed by an institutional report.
In its report, UCR noted the many changes at the campus since its last reaccreditation, including growth in enrollment, faculty, and staff. It’s also seen its graduation rates rise and national and international accolades grow, and joined the Association of American Universities.
The WASC visiting team reviews that report and holds small group meetings and open sessions covering areas including educational quality, institutional integrity, public accountability, and continuous improvement.
Between Oct. 28- 30, the WASC visiting team will be on campus for its meetings with students, faculty, and staff, plus an exit meeting for all.
The meeting times and locations for the open sessions are:
• Open session for students: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m., HUB 269
• Open session for faculty: Thursday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m., HUB 269
• Open session for staff: Thursday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m., HUB 269
• Exit meeting (open to all students, faculty, and staff): Friday, Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m., Student Success Center Multi-Purpose Room (first floor)
Baerenklau encourages the campus community to attend one of the open sessions, respond to questions from the visiting team and contribute to the reaccreditation.
The WASC Senior College and University Commission is scheduled to discuss the team’s report at its February meeting, which Baerenklau and Chancellor S. Jack Hu will attend. It is expected to issue its reaccreditation action in writing following that meeting.
For more information about the reaccreditation process and visit, go to: https://wasc.ucr.edu/2026-wscuc-reaffirmation-accreditation.
