Cabrillo College reports its accreditation has been re-affirmed by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The notification on Jan. 27 indicated Cabrillo earned three commendations relating to college planning, professional development related to equity concerns, and its participatory governance structure.
Dr. Joi Lin Blake, Palomar Community College District superintendent/president and the members of the Accrediting Peer Review Team conduct the report out to the Cabrillo Community at the conclusion of their week-long team visit.
Colleges in the California Community College system are subject to ACCJC review and accreditation decisions every seven years. To remain accredited, institutions must submit a lengthy written self-study and undergo a peer evaluation visit (which took place in October 2019).
The commission recommended three areas for improvement but made no findings of non-compliance with federal laws nor ACCJC policies. Areas to improve: Complete a technology plan, complete some updates of board policies, and consider the total cost of ownership in decisions about facilities, equipment and resources.
Cabrillo is required to submit a mid-term report in 2023.
The Peer Review Team, led by Dr. Joi Lin Blake, Palomar Community College District superintendent/president, conducts a public forum with Cabrillo faculty, staff, students and community members at the Aptos Campus.
“We are thrilled with the accreditation outcome and the peer report,” said Cabrillo Superintendent/President Dr. Matt Wetstein. “The visiting team helped us identify areas of institutional improvement that we have already started working on, and the commendations they described reflect a deep commitment to understanding Cabrillo’s outstanding governance culture. Credit goes to the entire College, and to my predecessor Laurel Jones for making sure there was a strong governance process in place.”
Wetstein said the technology plan is completed and under governance review and work on the other issues has already begun.
The commendations include positive references to Cabrillo’s commitment to the mission as an agent of institutional change, intentionally aligning resources, processes, procedures and assessment in support of student learning and achievement; equity-focused professional development for faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and student leaders; and collaborative and innovative approach to infuse equity through governance and participatory decision-making processes.
Dr. Kathie Welch, Cabrillo’s assistant superintendent/vice president of instruction, called the ACCJC report as a “feather in the cap for the college” and “the culmination of a lot of hard work by staff, faculty, and managers.”
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More info is at https://www.cabrillo.edu