Modify Title 5 to Indicate that California Community Colleges Shall Be Accredited By a Federally Recognized Accrediting Agency

Spring
2014
Resolution Number
02.01
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Category
Accreditation
Status
Assigned

Whereas, California Code of Regulations, Title 5 §51016 currently requires that, “Each community college within a district shall be an accredited institution. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges shall determine accreditation;”

Whereas, A basic criterion for participation in federal financial aid programs is that colleges be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, not one specific agency

Whereas, Naming a specific accrediting agency in Title 5 is problematic because agencies may change their names, merge with other entities, or cease to be recognized, any one of such circumstances requiring a corresponding change to Title 5; and

Whereas, Naming a specific accrediting agency in Title 5 reduces the options California community colleges have to affiliate with an accrediting agency that fits their mission and circumstances[1];

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the appropriate bodies to remove references to one specific accrediting agency in Title 5 and to replace the language with a neutral statement that California community colleges shall be accredited by a regional federally-recognized agency.

MSC


[1] For example, if a California community college chooses or is required to become an institution that offers multiple baccalaureate degrees, it must be accredited by an agency that has been nationally recognized to assess such institutions.