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Let me start with some nostalgia
time. In the “good old days,” it appeared that the Accreditation
Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) would examine an
institution through its anecdote-based self study and touchy-feely
onsite visit, and then come up with recommendations, which the
institution could conveniently ignore or only marginally correct. When
large shortcomings were pointed out, it only took a phone call from the
president to convince the ACCJC leadership that the sanctions were
unwarranted, and we should be left alone. The recommendations presumably
sat in a binder, gathering dust, for four years before the next cycle
began, and the institution would then explain why there was no
significant progress in addressing the shortcomings. Institutions were
apparently accredited over and over without significant work to address
shortcomings—life was good.
The good old
days are over. The current environment—based on changes in the federal
Department of Education that signal a desire for direct control of the
accrediting process—now requires institutions to engage in an ongoing
process of self-examination and self-improvement. We can no longer
ignore recommendations without the fear of sanctions. If the standards
are not met, then institutions can receive a variety of sanctions.
Colleges throughout California now fear losing accreditation, which
means they cannot get state or federal funds. The most local example of
actual loss of accreditation is Compton College, now operating as a
“center” of El Camino College. Colleges now actually have to act
responsibly toward the students, the community, and the ACCJC. Life has
changed.
It is with
alarm that I warn about the future. When I hear people say, almost
flippantly, that “we will get accredited” in the spring of 2010, I
actually cringe. The days of automatic accreditation are over. I am not,
by nature, an alarmist, but I love this college and want it to continue
as an accredited institution. I think all of you share this hope. We
desire to continue teaching our students. We need the peace of mind that
comes with knowing we will be paid, that GCC will continue as an
institution of higher education.
That future is
not guaranteed. It is up to
each and every
faculty member to participate in this Senate and faculty-driven process
of gathering information in order to protect ourselves from potential
infringements on academic freedom. We need to demonstrate what we do and
how we do it. This letter is a plea for participation, a call for
cooperation, a harangue for help. As the fall semester moves forward
there will be a variety of ways for you to participate in the process of
gathering information—the building blocks of a successful self study.
From town hall meetings to online BLOGS, you will have the opportunity
to engage in this crucial process.
But why wait
for such an invitation? Contact one of the four standards chairs or
myself and jump right in:
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