MiraCosta College's commitment to student success and excellence was just recognized by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), which reaffirmed the college's accreditation for six years, the maximum time allowed. This reaffirmation is a reflection of MiraCosta's continued tradition of providing quality instruction and support services that allow students to pursue and achieve their educational goals. The reaffirmation also reflects the tremendous steps the college has taken in the development of a more collegial, inclusive and comprehensive educational environment that results in better educational outcomes for students.
In recent years, the Accrediting Commission has turned its careful eye to California's community colleges in order to ensure that they are adequately meeting educational standards. Community colleges are held to high standards of student success and institutional performance, and being accredited is an integral part of assuring quality. Being an accredited college means that our students can receive federal financial aid and veteran benefits, and have the assurance that their course work will be accepted elsewhere should they transfer.
The process for reaffirmation of accreditation is intense?at MiraCosta, our administrators, faculty and staff developed an extensive 300-page self-evaluation report; hosted a site visit by peer evaluators representing ACCJC; and represented the college at the commission's June meeting. These reaccreditation requirements were the vehicles through which the college demonstrated its commitment to, and fulfillment of, commission standards. The college's board, faculty and staff worked tirelessly to ensure that we not only met the standards, but also were honest in assessing areas in which we could grow.
Reaffirmation of accreditation is not automatic or guaranteed; in fact, in recent years, many colleges have received a variety of sanctions. In MiraCosta's case, our accreditation was reaffirmed and the college was commended in many areas, including our achievement in reestablishing a positive and collegial environment; the college's robust use of modern information technology; our nationally recognized service learning program that partners with more than 75 nonprofit organizations and public schools, and involves more than 1,000 MiraCosta students annually; our comprehensive library services and collections; and our beautiful facilities and grounds that enhance the college's learning environment.
While the college is celebrating this welcome news, we must now turn our focus to follow-up work that needs to be accomplished in the next three years. As part of our reaffirmation, the college must prepare two follow-up reports: one in March, 2011 and another in March, 2012. The first report will demonstrate the ways in which we are using data-driven, integrated planning in institutional decision-making. The completion and implementation of the college's Master Plan, currently underway, is key to this outcome. The second report will address recommendations concerning student learning outcomes and evaluate the efficacy of our new governance structure. Finally, all colleges are required to file a Midterm Report in the third year after a comprehensive evaluation (March, 2013), indicating further progress on recommendations and future goals. We are fully committed to meeting these high standards and embrace this opportunity to improve. I firmly believe that MiraCosta will be a better college as a result of fulfilling the commission's recommendations.
The college has so much to be proud of?successful students, exceptional instructors, state-of-the-art programs, thriving arts and cultural programs, support from our community, and of course, beautiful campuses. MiraCosta is an exemplary institution and the future for our college is promising. Receiving reaffirmation of accreditation adds another proud milestone to MiraCosta's history as we strengthen the academic excellence and collegiality that have long distinguished this college.
In recent years, the Accrediting Commission has turned its careful eye to California's community colleges in order to ensure that they are adequately meeting educational standards. Community colleges are held to high standards of student success and institutional performance, and being accredited is an integral part of assuring quality. Being an accredited college means that our students can receive federal financial aid and veteran benefits, and have the assurance that their course work will be accepted elsewhere should they transfer.
The process for reaffirmation of accreditation is intense?at MiraCosta, our administrators, faculty and staff developed an extensive 300-page self-evaluation report; hosted a site visit by peer evaluators representing ACCJC; and represented the college at the commission's June meeting. These reaccreditation requirements were the vehicles through which the college demonstrated its commitment to, and fulfillment of, commission standards. The college's board, faculty and staff worked tirelessly to ensure that we not only met the standards, but also were honest in assessing areas in which we could grow.
Reaffirmation of accreditation is not automatic or guaranteed; in fact, in recent years, many colleges have received a variety of sanctions. In MiraCosta's case, our accreditation was reaffirmed and the college was commended in many areas, including our achievement in reestablishing a positive and collegial environment; the college's robust use of modern information technology; our nationally recognized service learning program that partners with more than 75 nonprofit organizations and public schools, and involves more than 1,000 MiraCosta students annually; our comprehensive library services and collections; and our beautiful facilities and grounds that enhance the college's learning environment.
While the college is celebrating this welcome news, we must now turn our focus to follow-up work that needs to be accomplished in the next three years. As part of our reaffirmation, the college must prepare two follow-up reports: one in March, 2011 and another in March, 2012. The first report will demonstrate the ways in which we are using data-driven, integrated planning in institutional decision-making. The completion and implementation of the college's Master Plan, currently underway, is key to this outcome. The second report will address recommendations concerning student learning outcomes and evaluate the efficacy of our new governance structure. Finally, all colleges are required to file a Midterm Report in the third year after a comprehensive evaluation (March, 2013), indicating further progress on recommendations and future goals. We are fully committed to meeting these high standards and embrace this opportunity to improve. I firmly believe that MiraCosta will be a better college as a result of fulfilling the commission's recommendations.
The college has so much to be proud of?successful students, exceptional instructors, state-of-the-art programs, thriving arts and cultural programs, support from our community, and of course, beautiful campuses. MiraCosta is an exemplary institution and the future for our college is promising. Receiving reaffirmation of accreditation adds another proud milestone to MiraCosta's history as we strengthen the academic excellence and collegiality that have long distinguished this college.