City College anticipates decision of accrediting commission

 

By Cassie Ordonio

City College is currently awaiting a decision that decides whether it will be accredited by an accrediting agency. The accrediting agency, in turn, is being reviewed by the Department of Education.

After the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) visiting team made their exit report back in October, the college can exhale for now.

However, the four-day visit left an unsettling feeling with the ACCJC’s new changes to their standards and practices.

“I knew what to expect, in terms of this being mainly a thank you,” Interim Chancellor Susan Lamb said at the visiting team’s exit report. “I would’ve liked to have known where there’s areas of concern and areas of recommendation, but I understand this is a part of the process that they’re not able to do that.”

The standards and practices have been changed slightly last year, but still highlight four standards: focusing on improvement of quality, student outcomes, improving consistency and clarity of standards and practices.

“We look at more in terms the leadership, governance and leadership, and looking at student achievement,” visiting team representative Henry Shannon said in regards to the standards. “We’re trying to get a feel for the whole institution.”

On the other hand, the visiting team can no longer provide a recommendation to the commission. This change was implemented at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Before, the visiting team would report if the college is at a level of reaffirmation, warning, probation or show cause, according to Lamb.

The commission will meet in January 2017 to review the visiting team’s evaluation, and determine the college’s status the following month.