ACCJC Communications

Spring
2009
Resolution Number
02.04
 
Assigned to
President
Category
Accreditation
Status
Completed
Status Report

Senate representatives are working with the ACCJC, Consultation Council Task Force on Accreditation, and other constituents to communicate concerns raised in this resolution. The principles expressed in this resolution will be shared on an ongoing basis.

Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) states in its bylaws that its purpose is to assure "that an institution has clearly defined objectives appropriate to higher education; has established conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected; appears in fact to be accomplishing them substantially; is so organized, staffed, and supported that it can be expected to continue to do so;"

Whereas, The ACCJC's communications regarding accreditation findings fail to express clearly those conditions that have led to negative findings and may result in colleges not addressing their most urgent issues in a timely manner;

Whereas, The faculty of the California community colleges have expressed questions and concerns regarding the ACCJC's objectives and how it goes about achieving them, asking the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to "research and document the evolving composition of the ACCJC and of accrediting teams, particularly with regard to the numbers of and balance between faculty and administrators"(Resolution 2.05 F02), "urge the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) to ensure that faculty comprise a minimum of 25% of the site visiting teams." (Resolution 2.04 F04), and "request of and work with the ACCJC to evaluate accreditation team training and college visitation schedules to consider faculty assignments and accommodate classroom obligations." (Resolution 2.01 S07); and

Whereas, The ACCJC website prominently provides information as to how third parties can make complaints and provide input regarding the institutions the ACCJC accredits;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges communicate to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) the need to clearly express its objectives and the processes it employs in achieving them, including how individuals are selected to serve on accrediting teams and how accredited institutions can submit complaints regarding the ACCJC or its findings and be assured of due process with respect to such complaints;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges encourage the ACCJC to explain clearly and fully any deficiencies when data aimed at satisfying the ACCJC requirements are found to be lacking and to provide guidance to the college so that the college can address the ACCJC's most urgent concerns in a timely manner; and

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with other constituency groups to inform the ACCJC of any deficiencies that exist in its means of communicating its findings to colleges and how it might improve its communications and ultimately the outcomes achieved at the institutions it accredits.

MSC Disposition: ACCJC, Local Senates