Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU), set in the rural northern Californian town of Ukiah some 185 kilometers north of San Francisco, announced that it has been granted an eight-year academic re-accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) after a comprehensive review, in recognition of its transformative approach to higher education and highly qualified faculty and staff.
DRBU was first granted academic accreditation in 2018.* DRBU observed that the re-accreditation issued in March this year marked a significant milestone in the growth and maturity of the university, which offers undergraduate, master’s, and certificate, programs, and is the only accredited four-year institution in Mendocino County.
“We are proud of this eight-year reaffirmation and of WSCUC’s recognition of our distinctive strengths, especially the transformational impact of our education and our ethic of care,” said DRBU President Dr. Susan Rounds in an announcement shared with BDG. “This accomplishment is due to the efforts of the whole University community and our collective commitment to DRBU’s mission and to WSCUC’s high standards for academic quality and institutional effectiveness.”
Established in 1976 by the eminent Chinese Buddhist monk Venerable Hsuan Hua (1918–95) within the grounds of the Mahayana monastery City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Dharma Realm Buddhist University is a small private university and community dedicated to liberal education with the values and ideals of the Buddhist tradition that incorporate self-discovery, personal virtue, compassionate service to humanity, and sincerity in all endeavors.
Renowned for its distinctive “Great Books” style degree programs, DRBU offers a unique educational experience centered on Asian and Western core texts and the integration of contemplative exercises. The university seeks to embody a tradition characterized by knowledge in the arts and sciences, self-cultivation, and the pursuit of wisdom.
“The official WSCUC Action Letter is available for public viewing on the WSCUC website, offering insight into DRBU’s commitment to transformative education and student-centered learning,” DRBU remarked.
A team from the WSCUC visited DRBU in October last year to conduct a three-day review of the Buddhist institute and its facilities and academic practices.
“The reviewing team commended the university for its highly qualified faculty and staff, for the transformational impact of the DRBU education on students and alumni, and for its commitment to graduate students debt free,” DRBU told BDG. “The WSCUC’s Commission Action Letter affirms that DRBU has successfully fulfilled the rigorous standards set forth in the accreditation process.”
* Dharma Realm Buddhist University in Northern California Gains Academic Accreditation (BDG)
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