What is Regional Accreditation? Regional Accreditation is a time-tested model of professional peer review that supports education excellence. Accreditation is a voluntary process of quality review that institutions agree to undergo periodically. The accrediting commission with responsibility for accreditation in various regions are legally recognized by the federal government.

How is Center to College Status Conducted?  Basic Phases:  Candidacy (ACCJC)  Needs Study (CCCCO)  Initial Accreditation (ACCJC)  We’re a college!

Internal Evaluation (Self-Evaluation) The institution engages in comparing itself to Accreditation Standards, writes an internal evaluation report, develops its own plans for improvement where needed, and submits the written analysis to the Accrediting Commission.

Self- Improvement Whether the institution meets the current Accreditation Standards or not, about self-improvement and each institution uses the recommendations of the external evaluation team and the Commission to guide changes that make their educational quality better.

Format of the Internal Evaluation Introduction Organization of Self Evaluation Process Organizational Information Certification of Continued Institutional Compliance with 20 Eligibility Requirements. Responses to Recommendations from the Most Recent Educational Quality and Institutional Effectiveness Review (Self Evaluation) – eight recommendations Structure of the Institutional Analysis (Standards)

Analysis of Each Standard  The following three elements should guide the structure of the analysis of each of the Standards:  Descriptive Summary  Self Evaluation  Actionable Improvement Plans

Commission Requirements for Evidence Student Achievement Data Evidence of Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment of Outcomes Evidence of Quality Program Review Evidence of Quality Student Support Services Evidence of Financial Performance and Integrity Evidence of Compliance with other Areas Related to Federal Requirements. Distance Education and Correspondence Education Public Information Campus Sites

The ACCJC Accreditation Standards consists of four fundamental standards, each divided into subsections, that describe the best practices for education quality and institutional effectiveness.

Standard I Institutional Mission and Effectiveness  Mission  Improving Institutional Effectiveness

Standard I: Institutional Mission and Effectiveness A. Mission The institution has a statement of mission that defines the institution’s broad educational purposes, its intended student population, and its commitment to achieving student learning. 1. The institution establishes student learning programs and services aligned with its purposes, its character, and its student population. 2. The mission statement is approved by the governing board and published. 3. Using the institution's governance and decision-making processes, the institution reviews its mission statement on a regular basis and revises it as necessary. 4. The institution’s mission is central to institutional planning and decision making.

Standard II Student Learning Programs and Services  Instructional Programs  Student Support Services  Library and Learning Support Services

Standard III Resources  Human Resource  Physical Resource  Technology Resources  Financial Resources

Standard IV Leadership and Governance  Decision-making Roles and Processes  Board  Administrative Organization

Resources ACCJC Website – Accreditation Reference Handbook Manual for Institutional Self Evaluation Guide to Evaluating Institutions Guide to Evaluating Distance Education and Correspondence Education College Website