Suggestions regarding faculty evaluations and Standards III.A.1.c appeared in a Rostrum article, although the clarification of "all others" responsible for student learning has not been addressed. A letter asking for clarification from the commission was sent in May 2012
Whereas, Faculty members from across the state are concerned with the ambiguity of language in Accreditation Standard III, specifically III.A.1.c, which states, "faculty and others directly responsible for student progress toward achieving stated student learning outcomes have, as a component of their evaluation, effectiveness in producing those learning outcomes,";
Whereas, These concerns were first made known at the Fall 2007 Plenary Session and subsequently have been addressed by Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers, in a letter that has been widely distributed throughout the California Community College system;
Whereas, In naming "faculty" and not clearly articulating who the "others" are, III.A.1.c implies faculty members are primarily responsible for student learning outcomes and therefore should be held to particular standards of evaluation that do not apply to the unnamed "others"; and
Whereas, Every member of a college community has a stake in and a responsibility to advance learning outcomes;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and Western Association of Schools and Colleges to draft new language that enumerates all parties responsible for student progress toward achieving stated learning outcomes, or strike the word "faculty" from III.A.1.c and present more general language pertaining to how a college and/or district is effectively producing and evaluating learning outcomes.
Disposition: Accrediting Commission, Local Senates