Accreditation Randy Lawson 411 Training April, 2016 Eva Conrad Retired CEO, EVP, CIO and Faculty

How do we safeguard quality in Higher Education?

How do we safeguard quality in Higher Education? Federal regulations have become increasingly specific and compliance- oriented. Criteria for college libraries = Past: number of volumes Now: Demonstrate library materials and service support student learning

What is accreditation? Peer review Self-regulation Voluntary Way to demonstrate to the public that the college’s credits and degrees meet minimum standards

What is accreditation? Began in 1930’s Primarily for post-secondary institutions Regional accreditation is older and more prestigious than national accreditation

Why do Colleges want to be accredited? Assures the public that the college meets the Standards Assures students the education earned will be recognized as valuable Assures employers, trade or profession- related licensing agencies, and other colleges and universities that student’s credential are legitimate

What gives accrediting commissions their authority? Member colleges United States Department of Education

What gives accrediting commissions their authority? Accreditation of college occurs regionally but Accrediting agencies are reviewed nationally

What gives accrediting commissions their authority? Accrediting commissions are reviewed by US Department of Education every five years If successful, USDE recognizes the accrediting commission

What are the standards for accrediting commissions? Do the standards include all federal requirements for colleges? Do the commissions’ processes have integrity? Do the commissions’ processes comply with federal requirements?

What are the standards for accrediting commissions? Are the results available to the public? Are all institution treated fairly?

Who are the accreditors?

Why do accrediting commissions want to be recognized by USDE? Required for students to apply for financial aid Required to apply for federal grants and contracts

Who creates the standards? We do! Set by member institutions Based on… best practices high expectations federal requirements

What are the phases of an accreditation review? Every seven years… Internal evaluation External evaluation by peers Evaluation by the Commission Institutional self-improvement

Concerns about ACCJC Between February 2005 and July 2015: 76 out of 113 CCC placed on sanction Between 2009 and 2013 of 269 accreditation actions, ACCJC issued 143 sanctions (53%) compared to a 12% sanction rate by other regional accrediting commissions in the same years

Concerns about ACCJC 2007: State Academic Senate 2010: CCCCO Task Force 2011: RP Group 2014 and 2015: State CEOs 2015: California State Auditor

Concerns about ACCJC Response from ACCJC: Status quo

What’s the latest on ACCJC? CCC Chancellor’s Office 2015 Task Force on Accreditation Chaired by CCCCO Vice Chancellor 9 members: 1 Trustee 2 CEOs 3 Faculty 2 CIOs 1 CSSO

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Tasks for CCCCO 2015 Task Force on Accreditation “…evaluate the current state of accreditation of California community colleges…” “…recommend to the Board of Governors possible courses of action…”

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Process of CCCCO 2015 Task Force on Accreditation Develop “Ideal Attributes of an Accrediting Organization” Transparency Consistency Collegiality

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Findings of CCCCO 2015 Task Force on Accreditation “The structure of accreditation in this region no longer meets the current and anticipated needs of the California community colleges.”

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Findings of CCCCO 2015 Task Force on Accreditation “ACCJC promised changes but the promises have led to few significant improvements.”

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Findings of CCCCO 2015 Task Force on Accreditation “The California Community College system and its member institutions have lost confidence in the ACCJC.”

What’s the latest on ACCJC? In March 2016 Task Force findings discussed and supported by Board of Governors Executive Board of CCC CEOs

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Workgroup 1: Improving ACCJC Structure, Function and Relations Task: Support ACCJC to comply with USDE concerns by October 2016

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Workgroup 2: Western Region Higher Education Accrediting Model Task: Pursue a model for regional accreditation that aligns all segments of higher education in the Western region

What’s the latest on ACCJC? Stay tuned! Until then… comply with the current standards!