Statement of Accreditation Status
Washington Adventist University
- CEO: Dr. Weymouth Spence, President
- Accreditation Liaison Officer: Mr. Ricardo Flores
- Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Tiffany Lee, Vice President
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs » Four-year, very small, highly residential
- Control: Private (Non-Profit)
- Former Name(s): Columbia Union College (6/16/2009), Washington Missionary College
- Phase: Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
- Accreditation Granted: 1942
- Last Reaffirmation: 2023
- Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2029-2030
- June 22, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2029-2030. - March 30, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due April 13, 2023, addressing the recent action taken by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiological Technology (JRCERT) and providing additional information on Standard IV (Support of the Student Experience), and Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029. - March 9, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To reaffirm accreditation. To note the action of November 17, 2022, and to remind the institution that a verification visit is required by USDE guidelines and will be conducted within 180 days of May 11, 2023. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2029-2030. - November 17, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note that the institution hosted a virtual site visit in lieu of an on-site visit in accordance with the United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To postpone a decision on the self-study report. To request a supplemental information report, due December 1, 2022, documenting evidence of (1) the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2021 (Standard VI and Requirement of Affiliation 11), and (2) submission of the 2021 audited financial statements to the Commission, United States Department of Education, and other parties as required by regulation and/or law (Standard VI and Requirements of Affiliation 5 and 11). To remind the institution of its obligation to provide to the Commission timely and accurate financial audits. To note that a verification visit is required by USDE guidelines and will be conducted within a reasonable period of time following the virtual site visit. - April 28, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close the additional location at Newbold College, Binfield Bracknell, RG42 4AN, United Kingdom that has ceased operations. To remove the additional location from the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022. - April 28, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close the additional location at NIST, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20866 that has ceased operations. To remove the additional location from the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision. - April 28, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close the additional location at Doctor's Community Hospital, 8118 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD 20706 that has ceased operations. To remove the additional location from the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision. - April 28, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close the additional location at Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, 44219 Airport Road, California, MD 20619 that has ceased operations. To remove the additional location from the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision. - April 28, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close the additional location at Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dussen, Laurel, MD 20707 that has ceased operations. To remove the additional location from the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision. - April 28, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close the additional location at General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904 that has ceased operations. To remove the additional location from the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision. - August 26, 2021
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the additional location at 312 Marshall Avenue, Suite 205, Laurel, MD 20707 within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when instruction commences at the additional location. To note that written evidence of necessary approvals has been provided. To note the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022. - November 16, 2017
To accept the Periodic Review Report, to reaffirm accreditation, and to recognize the institution for progress to date. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022. - November 19, 2015
To accept the progress report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - June 26, 2014
To accept the progress report. To request a progress report, due October 1, 2015, documenting continued implementation of the assessment of student learning outcomes, including evidence that assessment results are used across all programs to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - June 26, 2014
To accept the supplemental information report. - April 23, 2014
To request a supplemental information report, due May 23, 2014, addressing the recent accreditation decision of the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). To note that the progress report, due April 1, 2014, has been received and will be acted on by the Commission at its June meeting. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - October 31, 2013
To note the approval of the additional location at Prince Georges Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, Maryland 20785 has lapsed and to remove the location from the institution's accreditation. - October 28, 2013
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note that the institution has closed its additional location at Columbia Union College - Gaithersburg, 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. To remove this additional location from the institution's accreditation. To remind the institution of the progress report, due April 1, 2014, documenting continued progress in the implementation of the assessment of student learning outcomes, including evidence that assessment results are being used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - June 27, 2013
To accept the monitoring report. To request a progress report, due April 1, 2014, documenting continued progress in the implementation of the assessment of student learning outcomes, including evidence that assessment results are being used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - October 31, 2012
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the additional locations at (1) Doctor's Community Hospital, 8118 Good Luck Road, Lanham, Maryland 20706; (2) Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dussen, Laurel, Maryland 20707; and (3) Prince Georges Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, Maryland 20785 within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The Commission requires written notification within thirty days of the commencement of operations at the additional location. In the event that operations at the additional location do not commence within one calendar year from the approval of this action, approval will lapse. To remind the institution of the request that the monitoring report, due April 1, 2013, document evidence of further implementation of an organized and sustained process to assess the achievement of student learning outcomes at the course, program , and institutional level, including (1) provision of increased institutional resources devoted to student learning outcomes assessment; (2) the integration of learning outcomes at the course, program, and institutional levels; and (3) the use of assessment results in academic planning at all levels (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - June 28, 2012
To reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report, due April 1, 2013, documenting evidence of further implementation of an organized and sustained process to assess the achievement of student learning outcomes at the course, program , and institutional level, including (1) provision of increased institutional resources devoted to student learning outcomes assessment; (2) the integration of learning outcomes at the course, program, and institutional levels; and (3) the use of assessment results in academic planning at all levels (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017. - June 28, 2011
To acknowledge the substantive change request and to include the additional location at 338 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA 01561, provisionally within the scope of the institution's accreditation, pending a site visit to the location within six months of commencing operations and effective upon notification of receipt of Massachusetts state approval. To request that the self-study in preparation for the evaluation visit in 2011-2012 document the impact of the additional location on the finances and the governance structure of the institution (Standards 3 and 4), and to note that the additional location will be visited again as part of the evaluation scheduled for 2011-2012.
- Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method - Correspondence Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
Approved Credential Levels
The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
- Postsecondary award (1-2 years) Included within the scope
- Associate's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Main Campus
Washington Adventist University
7600 Flower Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912 - Additional Location
Laurel College Center
312 Marshall Avenue, Suite 205
Laurel, MD 20707
Opened: 09/09/2021
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