Accreditation Reaffirmed
by Jan Bernstein Chargin on Feb 10, 2021This month Â鶹´«Ã½ was notified that the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, took action at their January meeting to reaffirm Â鶹´«Ã½'s accreditation for the remainder of the cycle. The next comprehensive review cycle begins in 2026.
The Commission reviewed the Follow-up Report and related materials submitted by Â鶹´«Ã½ as well as a Peer Review Team follow-up report in making their determination. A letter sent by the Commission to the college reads in part "we wish to express appreciation for the diligent work and thoughtful reflection that Â鶹´«Ã½ undertook to respond to respond to these requirements."
At the start of the current accreditation cycle, Â鶹´«Ã½ conducted a self-evaluation followed by a peer review team visit in 2019. The Commission reaffirmed accreditation for 18 months and required a Follow-Up Report, which was submitted in October 2020, and a peer review site visit in November 2020. The next report due from the College will be a Midterm Report in March 2023.
The Follow-Up Report and second Peer Review visit were required in order to verify that the college had addressed two issues identified in the 2019 visit: ensuring that distance education courses consistently adhere to the policies established by the College concerning regular and substantive instructor and initiated contact with students, and ensuring that all student receive a course syllabus that includes student learning outcomes for the institution's officially approved course outline. Both of these requirements were found to be satisfied by the college.