Accreditation in a
Multi-College District
Accreditation Institute
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges
February 11, 2012, 1:00-2:00pm
John Nixon, Associate Vice President, ACCJC
Judy Beachler, Dean of Instruction, Cosumnes River College
Chris Hill, Professor of Earth Sciences, Grossmont College
Accreditation Standard IV.3.
In multi-college districts or systems, the
district/system provides primary leadership in
setting and communicating expectations of
educational excellence and integrity throughout
the district/system and assures support for the
effective operation of the colleges. It establishes
clearly defined roles of authority and responsibility
between the colleges and the district/system and
acts as the liaison between the colleges and the
governing board.
Accreditation Standard IV.3.
a. The district/system clearly delineates and
communicates the operational responsibilities
and functions of the district/system from those
of the colleges and consistently adheres to this
delineation in practice.
b. The district/system provides effective services
that support the colleges in their missions and
functions.
Accreditation Standard IV.3.
c. The district/system provides fair distribution of
resources that are adequate to support the
effective operations of the colleges.
d. The district/system effectively controls its
expenditures.
e. The chancellor gives full responsibility and
authority to the presidents of the colleges to
implement and administer delegated
district/system policies without his/her
interference and holds them accountable for the
operation of the colleges.
Accreditation Standard IV.3.
f. The district/system acts as the liaison between the
colleges and the governing board. The
district/system and the colleges use effective
methods of communication, and they exchange
information in a timely manner.
g. The district/system regularly evaluates
district/system role delineation and governance and
decision-making structures and processes to
assure their integrity and effectiveness in assisting
the colleges in meeting educational goals. The
district/system widely communicates the results of
these evaluations and uses them as the basis for
improvement.
Los Rios CCD
DACC:
District Accreditation Coordinating Committee
2003
2009
Los Rios CCD
Purpose of DACC
Ensure district dialogue
Develop district map
Coordinate review of District Office for
all four college accreditation processes
District level accreditation research
Create district level evidence
Los Rios CCD
District Map – Identify district, college, and
shared responsibilities and their impact in
meeting standards
One of 1st developed for ’03 process
Modified for ‘09 processing, modeled
after San Mateo CCD
Los Rios CCD
District Communication about Accreditation
DACC meetings
District Question Day
Website
ListServ
Chancellor’s Briefs
Los Rios CCD
District Roles/Services Provision Relevant
to the Standards
Summary Documents Written
I.
- Strategic Planning Processes,
Communications
II. - Bus. & Econ. Dev., IT, IR
III. - HR, Fiscal, IT, Police Services,
Facilities Management
Los Rios CCD
District Roles/Services Provision Relevant to the
Standards (cont’d)
IV- Evaluation Processes: Board Self,
Chancellor, Presidents
IV – LRCCD Governance & Decision-making
structures & processes (review by District
Academic Senate)
IV – District ‘Standard-to-Policy’ Matrix
IV – Standards Write-up for use by Colleges
Los Rios CCD
District Program Review
Ten Offices/Services
Standardized, annual process
Standardized resource request process
Los Rios CCD
District Accreditation Research
Environmental Scan of Greater
Sacramento MSA
Employee Survey
Student Satisfaction Survey
Los Rios CCD
District Level Evidence
Available on the Accreditation
Website
Replicated as an Evidence Room
During Site Visits
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
District Responsibilities in Support of Colleges:
Outlined in Board Policies and Functional Map
Provide centralized operational services in
human resources, some technology areas,
financial resources, research, and public safety
Provide framework for planning and evaluation
of institutional effectiveness
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
District Responsibilities in Support of
Colleges (cont’d):
Chancellor and governance structure
provide channels for communication of
information
District Services and the Governing Board
develop goals and regularly evaluate their
effectiveness in support of the colleges’
missions
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
2007 Accreditation
No formalized district-wide
coordination
2013 Accreditation
 Developed a District Accreditation
Coordinating Committee (DACC)
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
DACC membership
Faculty Accreditation Co-Chairs from each
college
Accreditation Liaison Officers from each
college
Sr. Dean of Institutional Research and
Planning
District Services Representative
Classified Senate President
Chancellor (as available and needed)
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
DACC Support Role in Accreditation Process:
Develop the District Functional Map
Provide consistent information on district’s
role to both colleges
Provide central coordination of timelines
and preparation for the site visits
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
District Services Support of Accreditation
Process:
Institutional Research provides data and
survey collection
Various services provide input into the
content of the functional map as it relates
to their role
Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD
Governing Board and Chancellor Role in
Accreditation Process
 Board members participated in informational
workshop to understand their role
 Board members and chancellor met with Standard IV
team members to answer questions
 Chancellor updates the Board on progress of the
accreditation progress
 Board reviews and approves final accreditation Self
Evaluation Reports
How would you answer these
questions?
How are districts’ mission and vision statements
aligned to support colleges and what evidence
illustrates such an alignment?
 How does the district affect student learning programs
and services?
 Does the district provide adequate resources (human,
technology, facilities, financial) to the colleges and
what policies and practices are established and
evaluated by colleges and districts?
 How do governing boards evaluate the effectiveness
of district administrations and their own effectiveness?
For more information
Contact:
Dr. John Nixon, Associate Vice President, ACCJC
jnixon@accjc.org
Judy Beachler, Dean of Instruction & Student Learning,
Cosumnes River College
beachlj@crc.losrios.edu
Chris Hill, Professor of Earth Sciences & Accreditation
Co-Chair, Grossmont College
chris.hill@gcccd.edu