The San Bernardino Community College District was recently notified by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, of their actions following Self Study Reports and evaluation team visits last October to San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) and Crafton Hills College (CHC).
The Commission reaffirmed San Bernardino Valley College's accredited status through 2014, with a requirement the college complete a Follow-Up Report by October 15, 2010. Crafton Hills College was placed on probation, with Follow-Up Reports due on October 15, 2009 and October 15, 2010. (Crafton Hills College accredited status continues during the probation period.)
"I strongly believe in the process of accreditation and view the Commission's actions as opportunities for us to learn from the recommendations and take action to improve at our colleges and at the District," commented Dr. Noelia Vela, Chancellor. "It is with that spirit of being learners and with a commitment to being more effective that we receive the Commission's recommendations and will seriously address them. We have some things about which to celebrate and we have some work ahead of us," she said.
San Bernardino Valley College was commended for actively using and evaluating Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) on a continuous basis (98 percent of academic programs and 100 percent of student services); addressing diversity in a number of ways, including developing the Puente and Tumaini programs for selected minority groups; its award-winning Middle College Program; providing a safe and modern college campus; active dialogue at all levels; and, supportive leadership.
SBVC's Follow-Up Report must address specific recommendations:
* 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.
* The Board of Trustees, Chancellor and college leaders, develop:
--an appropriate and clearly communication process for reviewing all district functions and processes using a program review model;
--a formal and regularly evaluated district strategic plan;
--a coordinated strategic plan for technology that is responsive to the colleges' needs;
--a long range human resources plan.
* The district's resource allocation process needs to be clarified and communicated to both colleges in the district.
Crafton Hills College was commended for its open process for ensuring widespread contributions to the college's recent planning efforts and development of the college mission and vision; the development of a professional development program; the welcoming atmosphere provided to students and the high level of customer service and satisfaction noted by students; modifying its administrative organizational structure to fill gaps identified by respondents to an employee survey and campus dialogue; and, initiatives that have increased the capacity for student success, especially in the area of developmental education and in the increased availability of student life activities.
There were a number of recommendations for CHC to help it come in compliance with the accreditation standards. Specifically, the college needs to:
* Develop a long-range institutional plan to accomplish its mission and realize its vision;
* Complete the development and evaluation of SLOs;
* Improve its governance structure and establish more widespread participation by classified staff and students;
* Complete the integration of program review, especially for distributed education courses;
* Develop long-term fiscal plans.
Crafton Hills College must address these recommendations in its Follow Up Report due on October 15, 2009.
In addition, CHC must complete a Follow Up Report by October 15, 2010 which demonstrates their resolution to the last two recommendations listed for SBVC (dealing with district functions), plus a recommendation stating that the college president ensures all areas of the college are actively participating in the decision-making and planning processes.
A Board Study Session has tentatively been scheduled for April 30 for staff to report to the Board of Trustees an explanation of the Commission's recommendations, along with a plan of action.
James Ramos, board president, stated, "The Board was anticipating the Accrediting Commission would make recommendations for the District to develop a strategic plan, a technology plan and a resource allocation plan. We're ready to get to work."
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) accredits associate degree granting institutions in California, Hawaii, the Territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ACCJC is one of three commissions under the corporate entity known as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The San Bernardino Community College District is composed of San Bernardino Valley College, Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, KVCR-TV/FM and the Professional Development Center.
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