AIGeneral Session 1 DR Carroll

2015 Accreditation Institute
Accreditation: Evolution and

New Challenges
Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.

Chancellor
San Diego Community College District
1
Accreditation and Quality
Assurance in Other
Countries
Government
Minister/Secretary
of Education
Higher Education
Councils
2
Types of Accreditation
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
Types of U.S. Accrediting Organizations
There are four types of accrediting organizations:
Regional accreditors
National faith-related accreditors
National career-related accreditors
Programmatic accreditors
4
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
 1965 offerings.
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
History of U.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
Six Regional Accrediting Organizations
 Northwest (includes  New England

Alaska)  Middle States
 Western (includes Hawaii)  Southern
 North Central
http://www.macu.edu/about-macu/ 7
accreditation.html
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
Who Accredits the Accreditors?
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
9
Functions of Accreditation
Accreditation serves several major
purposes:
 Assuring quality
 Access to federal and state funds
 Engendering public confidence
 Facilitating transfer
10
Accreditation Process
1. Standards Established
2. Comprehensive Self-Study/ Self-Evaluation
3. Site Visit/On-site Evaluation
4. Judgment by Accrediting Organization
5. Midterm Reports
6. Annual Reports
7. Substantive Change
Image from ACCJC/WASC presentation “Accreditation and Trustee Roles and Responsibilities”
11
Basic Eligibility Requirements
for Community Colleges
1. Authority (license) to operate
2. Operational Status
3. Degree Programs
4. Chief Executive Officer (full-time)
5. Financial Accountability
• including external audits
• including GASB requirements
12
for Community Colleges (cont’d)
6. Mission
7. Governing Board (independent)
8. Administrative Capacity
9. Educational Programs
10. Academic Credit
11. Student Learning and Student Achievement
12. General Education
13. Academic Freedom
13
for Community Colleges (cont’d)
14. Faculty
15. Student Support Services
16. Admissions
17. Information and Learning Support Services
18. Financial Resources
• integrated with all planning
19. Institutional Planning and Evaluation
20. Integrity in Communication with the Public
21. Integrity in Relations with the Accrediting
Commission
14
Standards of Accreditation
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
15
Major Changes to ACCJC Standards
 Introduction of Student Learning

1996 Outcomes (SLOs), focus on
institutional effectiveness
 Consolidation of ten standards to
2002 four; expansion of “culture of
evidence”
 Addition of requirements for
2014 institutions offering baccalaureate-
level programs
16
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
17
Accreditation Actions
1. Candidacy (grant, extend, deny)
2. Initial Accreditation (grant, follow-up, extend,

deny)
3. Reaffirm (defer, follow-up reports, and/or visits)
4. Warning
5. Probation
6. Show Cause
7. Terminate
8. Restoration Status
18
Future Directions/Challenges
Role of ACCJC
- CCC Board of Governors Meeting

1/20/15
19
THANK YOU!
Q and A
20

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2015 Accreditation Institute

Accreditation: Evolution and

Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.

There are two basic types of educational accreditation:

 Specialized or programmatic accreditation normally applies to

There are four types of accrediting organizations:

National faith-related accreditors

National career-related accreditors

 1880s First regional accrediting agencies are formed

 1912 The National Association of Accredited Commercial

 1948 Western College Association is formed

 1950s Expansion of public sector higher education beyond

 Northwest (includes  New England

Accrediting organizations are accountable to the

2. Comprehensive Self-Study/ Self-Evaluation

3. Site Visit/On-site Evaluation

4. Judgment by Accrediting Organization

1. Authority (license) to operate

4. Chief Executive Officer (full-time)

Standard I: Mission, Academic Quality and

Standard II: Student Learning Programs and Support

Standard III: Resources

Standard IV: Leadership and Governance

 Introduction of Student Learning

ACCJC authorized to approve bachelor’s degrees through the

Added to draft standards new requirements specific to

1. Candidacy (grant, extend, deny)

2. Initial Accreditation (grant, follow-up, extend,

3. Reaffirm (defer, follow-up reports, and/or visits)

- CCC Board of Governors Meeting

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