Accreditation: Evolution and New Challenges

1. 2015 Accreditation Institute Accreditation: Evolution and New Challenges Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D. Chancellor San Diego Community College District 1

2. Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Other Countries Government Minister/Secretary of Education Higher Education Councils 2

3. TypesofAccreditation • There are two basic types of educational accreditation: • Institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire institution. • Specialized or programmatic accreditation normally applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution, generally specialized or vocational programs 3

4. TypesofU.S.AccreditingOrganizations • There are four types of accrediting organizations: • Regional accreditors • National faith-related accreditors • National career-related accreditors • Programmatic accreditors 4

5. Major Federal Legislation Affecting Accreditation 1952 Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act - expands GI Bill funding and establishes nongovernmental accreditors as “reliable authorities” as to quality of educational offerings. 1965 Higher Education Act - establishes the basic structure for ongoing grant and loan programs for students. 1972 Major expansion of federal student aid, including making funds available to students attending for-profit institutions and affirming that federal assistance is to go to students and not institutions. 1992 Federal oversight of accreditation incorporated into the Higher Education Act, in part a reaction to concerns about the extent to which students were defaulting on federal loans. 5

6. HistoryofU.S.Accreditation 1880s First regional accrediting agencies are formed 1912 The National Association of Accredited Commercial Schools, the first national accrediting agency, is formed 1948 Western College Association is formed 1950s Expansion of public sector higher education beyond teacher education to multi-purpose state colleges and universities and establishment of thousands of community colleges; periodic review, site visits, and the use of self-studies begin to emerge among accrediting agencies 6

7. SixRegionalAccreditingOrganizations • Northwest (includes Alaska) • Western (includes Hawaii) • North Central • New England • Middle States • Southern 7 http://www.macu.edu/about-macu/accreditation.html

8. Number of Institutions Accredited by Regional Accrediting Organizations The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the only regional accrediting organization that has two higher education accreditors: the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (SCUC) 8

9. WhoAccreditstheAccreditors? • Accrediting organizations are accountable to the institutions and programs they accredit • They are also required to have “recognition” by the United States Department of Education (USDE) in order to be eligible for federal student aid and other programs • Although accreditation is a nongovernmental activity, recognition is a governmental function

10. FunctionsofAccreditation • Accreditation serves several major purposes: • Assuring quality • Access to federal and state funds • Engendering public confidence • Facilitating transfer

11. AccreditationProcess Standards Established Comprehensive Self-Study/ Self-Evaluation Site Visit/On-site Evaluation Judgment by Accrediting Organization Midterm Reports Annual Reports Substantive Change Image from ACCJC/WASC presentation “Accreditation and Trustee Roles and Responsibilities”

12. Basic Eligibility Requirements for Community Colleges • Authority (license) to operate • Operational Status • Degree Programs • Chief Executive Officer (full-time) • Financial Accountability • including external audits • including GASB requirements

13. Basic Eligibility Requirements for Community Colleges (cont’d) Mission Governing Board (independent) Administrative Capacity Educational Programs Academic Credit Student Learning and Student Achievement General Education Academic Freedom

14. Basic Eligibility Requirements for Community Colleges (cont’d) • Faculty • Student Support Services • Admissions • Information and Learning Support Services • Financial Resources • integrated with all planning • Institutional Planning and Evaluation • Integrity in Communication with the Public • Integrity in Relations with the Accrediting Commission

15. StandardsofAccreditation Standard I: Mission, Academic Quality and Institutional Effectiveness, and Integrity Standard II: Student Learning Programs and Support Services Standard III: Resources Standard IV: Leadership and Governance

16. MajorChangestoACCJCStandards 1996 • Introduction of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), focus on institutional effectiveness • Consolidation of ten standards to four; expansion of “culture of evidence” • Addition of requirements for institutions offering baccalaureate- level programs 2002 2014

17. ACCJC Bachelor’s Degree Requirements • ACCJC authorized to approve bachelor’s degrees through the substantive change process • Added to draft standards new requirements specific to bachelor’s degree • Minimum 120 semester credits • Minimum GE requirement 36 semester credits • All standards apply and interpreted in the context of the degree (e.g. faculty credentials, library resources, etc. should be appropriate to the degree) • Substantive Change Process

18. AccreditationActions Candidacy (grant, extend, deny) Initial Accreditation (grant, follow-up, extend, deny) Reaffirm (defer, follow-up reports, and/or visits) Warning Probation Show Cause Terminate Restoration Status

19. Future Directions/Challenges Role of ACCJC - CCC Board of Governors Meeting 1/20/15

20. THANK YOU! Q and A 20