Western US accreditor to break rank on regional boundaries

Clare McCann was quoted in Education Dive about WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which cited forthcoming rules from the U.S. Department of Education that eliminate geographic boundaries for regional accreditors as the reason for its decision.

She said they don't see WSCUC's intentions as a cause for concern. But they worry the decision to drop regional barriers, and WSCUC's subsequent move, means the broader accreditation landscape will be subject to competition that reduces the quality of oversight.

"Having one regional accreditor move into the national accreditor space opens the door for all of them to do it, and then, to the extent that there is any sort of group pressure, peer pressure, to keep their processes rigorous and to aim a little higher, that pressure goes away completely". WSCUC's decision, she said, "is going to be the first domino that tips over the rest."