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The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC) accredits community colleges and other associate degree-granting institutions in the Western region of the U.S. The ACCJC is one of seven regional accrediting commissions in the U.S. The ACCJC is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education through the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

Accreditation Process

³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ maintains accreditation by meeting standards established by the ACCJC. Over the course of the (previously six-year) now seven-year accreditation review cycle, the College engages continuously in internal, mission-driven evaluation processes. These are accompanied by regular external peer evaluation and Commission evaluation. Together, these result in continual institutional self-improvement. Documents produced during this cycle include: a comprehensive institutional self-evaluation report (ISER), external evaluation report, midterm report, annual reports, and annual fiscal reports.

³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ completed an ISER during the 2020-21 year. This was followed by a site visit in Spring 2021 comprising external peer evaluators under the leadership of the ACCJC. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this 2021 site visit was conducted virtually. Faculty, classified staff, administrators, and students contributed to the gathering of evidence, writing of the ISER, and preparation for the site visit.

Accreditation throughout higher education in the United States is grounded in peer review. At ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, accreditation is a process by which the entire college community engages in self-reflection, external review, and continuous improvement.  At ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, accreditation is an ongoing process whereby the college evaluates itself against professional standards and its own mission, vision, and values (MVV). It also considers the integrity and effectiveness of institutional processes and resource utilization, all of which are in the service of student learning and achievement. External accreditors offer assurance to students and the public that ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ meets high standards of institutional effectiveness and educational quality.

The Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) is an important document in the accreditation process and provides a comprehensive overview of the institution, compliance with accreditation standards and relevant regulations, and improvement plans. The ISER is submitted to ACCJC in advance of an accreditation site visit.

Accreditation Site Visit (Virtual): March 1 – 4, 2021
A team comprising peer external reviewers and led by ACCJC representatives will conduct a virtual site visit of ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ in spring 2021. All interested parties are invited to submit comments about ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ to the ACCJC ahead of the site visit by completing a  on the ACCJC website.

Accreditation Peer Review Visiting Team Members
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ will be hosting the Accreditation Peer Review Visiting Team, virtually, during spring 2021. This is a team of professional peers from community colleges and other institutions of higher education located throughout the region. Visiting team members review ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’s Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) and accompanying documents, conduct interviews with campus groups, and provide insight and support to advance institutional effectiveness and student learning and achievement. 

Open Forums During the Site Visit
All community members are welcome to attend one of two Open Forums. These are available for participants to share views with and ask questions of the ACCJC Peer Review Team.

³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Accreditation Resources

The ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Accreditation Steering Committee is responsible for producing required reports and guiding the campus through the accreditation process. Institutional leadership, including the College President and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), maintain ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’s compliance with the Eligibility Requirements (ERs) and Accreditation Standards, including federal requirements, Commission policies, and ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’s Mission, Vision, and Values. This committee supports these endeavors.

Committee Meetings
Meeting Days: Mondays opposite Roundtable
Time: 12:20 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: 4th Flr, Rm 451A/B (via Zoom in case of campus closure)

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These questions and answers are meant to provide basic information about regional accreditation to college staff and students.

ACCJC Annual Reports

ACCJC provides a process for third parties to comment on an institution’s compliance with accrediting standards. More information is available at the the .