Institute of Buddhist Studies Granted WSCUC Candidacy
Scott Mitchell | July 10, 2017
The Institute of Buddhist Studies has been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). WSCUC is the regional accrediting agency for colleges and universities in California and Hawai’i. Having achieved Candidacy is a significant milestone in the ongoing development of IBS as it pursues accreditation.
This past February, a team of evaluators visited IBS and reviewed its educational programs and institutional structures. The visiting team chair, Dr. Bokin Kim, President of the Won Institute, wrote in the team report that “the commitment faculty demonstrate to engage in scholarship is exceptional” and that “IBS is to be commended for their commitment to improvement.”
In the WSCUC Commission action letter following the visit, WSCUC President Mary Ellen Petrisko expressed the Commission’s “appreciation for the extensive work that the Institute of Buddhist Studies undertook in preparing for and supporting this accreditation review.”
WSCUC has scheduled a second accreditation visit for Fall 2019.
Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, said upon receiving the action letter, “IBS is very grateful to receive candidacy status from WSCUC, as well as the affirmation that such recognition implies. We feel encouraged to do everything we can to enable our institution to achieve initial accreditation in the near future.”
IBS is committed to the process of accreditation and confident that we will meet WSCUC standards by the next accreditation visit. Becoming accredited will ensure the long-term growth and stability of the IBS and signal that the institute is a premier location for Buddhist education in the United States.
The Commission action letter and team report has been made public on the WSCUC directory: https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/institute-buddhist-studies
The Institute of Buddhist Studies has been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001. This status is a preliminary affiliation with the Commission awarded for a maximum period of five years. Candidacy is an indication that the institution is progressing toward Accreditation. Candidacy is not Accreditation and does not ensure eventual Accreditation.