Pasadena : Report on Pacific Oaks

An accreditation team that examined Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School in April concluded that the school has made several improvements since its last review three years ago, when it was sharply criticized.

Ray Andersen, director of the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges, which accredits colleges and universities, said a report will be made public this month. He called the report “generally quite positive, but there are also some significant recommendations. The team found a lot of improvement.”

Katherine Gabel, who was hired in 1985 by the Pacific Oaks board of directors to make changes recommended by the earlier accreditation team, said the three-person investigating team spent two days at Pacific Oaks and “saw us to be a healthy institution.” She said improvements have been made in academic rigor, communications and the school’s long-range plan, all of which were criticized three years ago.