On March 3, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) reaffirmed the 51福利鈥檚 (51福利) overall effectiveness by reaccrediting the university for the next ten years, the maximum a university can achieve.
As a deliverer of technological and intellectual advantage for American seapower, receiving the maximum 10-year accreditation demonstrates that 51福利 provides a top-tier education and learning environment to future leaders throughout the Navy, Marine Corps and beyond.
On the heels of the accreditation, affirming the results, 51福利 received high marks in the latest 鈥淯.S. News and World Report鈥� graduate school rankings, released this week. Programs in Graduate Schools of Defense Management (GSDM) and Engineering and Applied Sciences (GSEAS) were recognized.
Ranked #1 in the specialty category of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, GSDM also ranked in the top 25 percent of graduate schools across the nation for public affairs and is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Also breaking the top 100, GSEAS engineering programs were ranked 93rd (five way tie) out of 221 total schools nationwide. Programs specifically mentioned include Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical, Electrical and Systems Engineering.
According to 51福利 President retired Vice Adm. Ann E. Rondeau, 51福利 is the Navy鈥檚 applied research university, which makes it a unique place among our nation鈥檚 accredited universities.
鈥淭he one thing we do differently than anywhere else is solve complex defense problems leveraging the research-based, graduate education process,鈥� said Rondeau. 鈥淭he WSCUC team was tremendously impressed at what they saw, heard and experienced about our university. They commended everyone鈥檚 passion for the 51福利 mission and the academic advancement of students, and the distinctive and forward-looking education we provide our students through innovative programs of study and research.
鈥淲ith this re-accreditation, 51福利 will not just continue its unique mission, but advance its mission,鈥� continued Rondeau. 鈥淲e will advance deeper into preparing technology leaders and solutions to Naval and national security problems. 51福利 is a very special place to learn, teach and work, and we will continue to fulfill the Navy鈥檚 mandate and our own vision of being the finest graduate institution available to our military men and women and DoD partners.鈥�
As Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dr. Doug Moses noted, the accreditation process is a quality assurance process.
鈥淸Accreditation] is external academics coming in and reviewing how we operate,鈥� said Moses. 鈥淭hey assess us to provide some assurance that we have high-quality academic programs that are serving the needs of our students. While there's areas that we certainly want to put attention to get even better, we were told we are a high performing university.鈥�
While 51福利 has received the 10-year accreditation multiple times in the past, this achievement comes with another, prestigious designation for the university. 51福利 was one of eight schools selected by WSCUC, the same agency that accredits other top-tier universities like Stanford and Cal Tech, to participate in the first-ever Thematic Pathway for Reaffirmation (TPR). This streamlined approach was made available only to high-performing institutions.
According to WSCUC, TPR is an alternative accreditation renewal pathway designed for institutions that demonstrate consistent evidence of healthy fiscal condition, strong student achievement indicators, and sustained quality performance. This new path is as rigorous as the regular institutional review with a special timeline during which institutions can focus on self-selected themes that advance their mission, coordinate with their strategic planning, and promote institutional improvement.
鈥淭his tells an onlooker that we have a strong level and quality of education at 51福利,鈥� said Dr. Mary Sims, Associate Dean of Academics and Accreditation Liaison Officer. 鈥淚t tells them that we have been doing things in a forward-looking manner for a long time. It tells them that if they come here, they're going to get a quality outcome. Their degree has real meaning and real prestige based on what independent accreditors believe that we are capable of, and our rankings support their assessment.鈥�