Both Modesto Junior College and Columbia College have had their accreditation reaffirmed by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Previously, MJC and Columbia College had been on probation and warning statuses, respectively. They were put on watch in 2012 for not meeting the standards of the Accrediting Commission.
The reaccreditation comes as MJC recently announced plans to purchase land in Turlock, near the Turlock Auto Plaza. The land purchase would eventually lead to the construction of a Turlock MJC campus.
According to a letter to former MJC Interim President Dr. Mary Retterer, most of the concerns of the Accrediting Commission were organizational in nature, including budgeting, better defining community demographics, better tracking of faculty evaluations and better facility operations at both campuses.
Both colleges provided evidence to the Accrediting Commission that they have made the changes recommended to each college, and have met all standards.
MJC President Jill Stearns said she was “thrilled that MJC has had the sanction removed and accreditation reaffirmed.”
“This action is a result of the collaborative effort of faculty, staff, leadership, and students who joined together with a renewed focus on access and student success,” she said.
“I am proud of the commitment and dedication of the college community to sustaining a high level of quality in programs and services for our students and thank the Commission for verifying that commitment with reaffirmation,” Columbia College President Dr. Angela Fairchilds said.
Neither college had lost its accreditation status during the period in which they were cited, but did run the risk of losing accreditation if improvements had not been made.
Accreditation is granted to educational institutions every six years that meet or exceed specific standards and continually live up to those standards while committed to the students and community.
The standards for accreditation include Institutional Mission and Effectiveness, Student Learning Programs and Services, Resources, and Leadership and Governance.
