Accreditation

Request of the ACCJC to Evaluate and Improve Inter-rater Reliability of Visiting Teams

Whereas, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) evaluation teams that visit institutions completing self-evaluations vary widely in composition and background, resulting in recommendations often more focused on team members’ areas of expertise than a balanced evaluation of all standards;

Whereas, Current ACCJC standards tend to be subjective, vague and open to interpretation allowing for inconsistencies from one visiting team to another; and

Resolution Affirming Support for Diversity and Equity in Accreditation Standards

Whereas, A highly diverse college community has academic value for all students because it creates a rich learning environment that encourages critical thinking while honoring different points of view and supports society’s compelling interest in increasing diversity in leadership;

Whereas, Improving educational success for all students must include modeling the principles of student equity and fostering respect for diversity;

ACCJC Transparency

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges call on the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to implement a policy of transparency in its proceedings and decision making which includes the opportunity for the public to discuss proposed sanctions before they are voted on and to publish visiting team recommendations for sanctions and minutes of ACCJC meetings including a tally of votes taken.

MSC

Extend Deadline for CCSF to Meet Accreditation Standards

Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has acted to remove accreditation from City College of San Francisco (CCSF) by July 2014;

Whereas, The ACCJC's decision to disaccredit CCSF is being contested legally by at least three pending lawsuits, an unprecedented situation which has never been faced by colleges on accreditation sanction; and

Equitable Access to College Resources for Part-Time Faculty

Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) is gathering input on revisions to the Accrediting Standards, with an expected adoption in June 2014;

Whereas, As of November 7, 2013, II.A.8 reads, “Responsibilities of all teaching faculty include instruction, assessment, and the systematic understanding of effective teaching/learning processes and outcomes in courses and programs for which they share responsibility”; and

Responding to Draft ACCJC Accreditation Standards as They Relate to Libraries and Learning Support Services

Whereas, As of November 7, 2013, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has drafted new Standards to replace the 2002 Standards without incorporating proposals given to the Commission from the Council of Chief Librarians, a group that represents librarians in the California community colleges, to strengthen the coordination of student learning among librarians, learning support staff, and discipline faculty;

Employ the Term “Action Required” Rather Than “Recommendation” for Evaluation Findings That Must Be Addressed by the Two-Year Rule

Whereas, Section 602.20(a) of the Secretary’s Criteria for Recognition mandates that recognized accrediting agencies for institutions such as the California community colleges must either take immediate adverse action against the institution, or give the institution two years to bring itself into compliance (the so-called Two-Year Rule);

Sufficient Advance Notice for Changes to Required ACCJC Annual Reports

Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) requires member colleges to file Annual Reports and Annual Fiscal Reports to maintain their status as accredited institutions;

Whereas, Member colleges have difficulty completing such reports in a meaningful and comprehensive way when the requirements and required data for these reports differ substantially from year to year, and sufficient advance notice and instructions are not provided; and

Request of ACCJC to Model Effective Self-Evaluation Practices

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has expressed various concerns with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) regarding faculty participation and representation on the Commission’s committees and on on-site evaluation teams through a variety of means, including resolutions passed by the body, concerns expressed to the California Community College

Chancellor’s Office, and the Board of Governors, and letters sent by the Academic Senate to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE)1; and

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