Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), a division of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), has adopted the new 2002 Accreditation Standards;
Whereas, The 2002 Accreditation Standards offer a range of significant changes from previous accreditation standards, primarily with their reliance on Student Learning Outcomes;
Whereas, Systemwide unhappiness with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has been expressed by the Chief Instructional Officers (CCCCIO), by members of the Board of Governors, by the Faculty Association for California Community Colleges (FACCC), by resolution at the March 2006 conference of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), and by many resolutions of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges;
Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) took action to suspend Compton College's accreditation for administrative reasons rather than academic;
Whereas, Compton's faculty, working in relative isolation and without the necessary resources, including technological training and support and the establishment of student learning outcomes at the course level, continued to provide courses and programs for their students;
Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges recommend to local senates that they accept accreditation as a primary responsibility and that they try to assure:
1. That the membership of the accreditation steering committee be appointed with the concurrence of the academic senate and contain a significant number of faculty members.
2. That a faculty chair or co-chair of the accreditation steering committee (with reassigned time) be appointed with the concurrence of the academic senate.
Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges recommend to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges: 1. That in the review of the accrediting handbook the commission focus on the delineation of functions, enhancing the role of local academic senates in the accreditation process of their institutions. 2. That the commission consider procedures for involving the senates in the various stages of the accreditation process. 3.
Whereas community colleges are working toward full partnership in higher education, and
Whereas the quality of degrees is an important consideration in the pursuit of this partnership, and
Whereas the Commission for Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education in its report, "The Challenge of Change," recommends a greater role for local senates in peer review, hiring and promotion, and
Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges recommend to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that all reports representing the official position of a college relating to accreditation must be co-signed by the President of the college, President of the academic senate, and President of the student body.
Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has consistently supported the highest academic standards for institutions, faculty, and students, and
Whereas there have been concerns expressed that the State Department of Education "approved" institutions are not the equivalent in quality to accredited institutions, and
Whereas such "approved" institutions can now legally award bachelor's, master's, and even Ph.D. degrees, and
Whereas the Academic Senate recognizes the concerns cited by the Accrediting Commission regarding the current fifth-year review procedures, and
Whereas a comprehensive accrediting review every five years would pose extreme demands on the time and resources of the colleges,
Resolved that the Academic Senate recommend that the Accrediting Commission develop a format for the fifth-year review that is clear, with understandable scope and guidelines, and that is consistent for each college.
Whereas the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges is considering changing community college accreditation from a ten to a five-year cycle, and
Whereas some colleges have found it difficult to be adequately reviewed under the current time and scope limits for visits and self-studies done during a fifth-year validation,