Western Washington University

Contact Info

Tammi Laninga, Academic Program Director
360.650.2814; Dept. phone: 360.650.7773
laningt@wwu.edu
https://cenv.wwu.edu/uepp/urban-planning-sustainable-development-ba
Public Information

Accreditation Actions

Accreditation through December 31, 2025
Last Accreditation Cycle: 2019 – 2020
Next Accreditation Cycle: 2024 – 2025
Progress Report: Not Applicable

Summary of Recent Actions

November 2020: Program granted 5-year accreditation.

PAB accreditation indicates that the Program has undergone an external review and substantially meets the PAB standards and criteria. Programs granted accreditation demonstrated conformity with PAB Standards after a thorough review from the Board. PAB bases its decisions on the overall quality of the program, its performance relative to its mission and strategic plan, and its performance relative to PAB’s 5 standards, which encompass a total of 29 criteria and 18 curriculum sub-criteria. When PAB determines that a Program does not fully meet a criterion or curriculum sub-criterion, the Program is encouraged to take steps to improve in that area and provide information to PAB on its efforts, either during the next accreditation review or in an interim progress report.

The Planning Accreditation Board has required the Program to address issues in the following areas:

• Criterion 1B / Current Strategic Plan determined to be partially-met. Evidence of participation of alumni and practitioners in the development of the strategic plan was not demonstrated.
• Criterion 1C / Programmatic Assessment determined to be partially-met. The process of surveying its graduates and documenting of the survey methodology for conducting the survey should be formalized.
• Criterion 2C / Student Advising, Services and Support determined to be partially-met. Faculty advising roles are not formalized, and financial aid information is not published.
• Criterion 3B / Faculty Diversity determined to be partially-met. The Program should include strategies for diversifying its faculty.
• Criterion 3D / Engagement with Students determined to be partially-met. Evidence documenting faculty engagement with students was not demonstrated.

This information is a summary only. Please consult the school directly for in-depth information regarding programs, course offerings, and compliance with PAB standards. Programs should also be consulted directly for additional information on issues and areas of improvement identified during an accreditation review, and the actions that the school is taking to address these areas. If the Program has provided a response to any of the issues cited above, please see below for a link to the response.

November 2016: Program granted 4-year accreditation. The 4-year decision is based on PAB’s findings that multiple minor deficiencies exist and/or deficiencies have been recently corrected.

PAB accreditation indicates that the Program has undergone an external review and substantially meets the PAB standards and criteria. Programs granted accreditation demonstrated conformity with PAB Standards after a thorough review from the Board. PAB bases its decisions on the overall quality of the program, its performance relative to its mission and strategic plan, and its performance relative to PAB’s 7 standards, which encompass a total of 35 criteria and 17 curriculum sub-criteria. When PAB determines that a Program does not fully meet a criterion or curriculum sub-criterion, the Program is encouraged to take steps to improve in that area and provide information to PAB on its efforts, either during the next accreditation review or in an interim progress report.

This information is a summary only. Please consult the school directly for in-depth information regarding programs, course offerings, and compliance with PAB standards. Programs should also be consulted directly for additional information on issues and areas of improvement identified during an accreditation review, and the actions that the school is taking to address these areas.