Santa Monica College (SMC) will undergo its institutional review for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) culminating with a visit by an evaluation team representing ACCJC to SMC’s campuses October 3-6, 2016. The visit will also include an evaluation of the college’s pilot Bachelor of Science Degree in Interaction Design.
“We are looking forward to the visit of the ACCJC accreditation team led by Ohlone College President/Superintendent Dr. Gari Browning,” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery. “The SMC community has done a tremendous job of coming together to prepare for the accreditation team visit where we will showcase our many accomplishments—and also identify ways to strengthen the college and to better help students prepare for their future.”
Preparations for the review by the 15-member evaluation team—comprising of academic and administrative colleagues from SMC’s peer institutions—are in full swing under the direction of the college’s academic affairs division. A comprehensive “self-evaluation report”, which involved scores of SMC employees and departments, has been submitted to the Commission.
The development of this report followed an exhaustive self-study process reflecting on SMC’s accomplishments, challenges, and evolution over the past six years; acknowledgment of areas in need of improvement; and the creation of a focused action plan that explores, in-depth, two planning areas: student success/equity and technology.
The SMC self-evaluation report—and more information on the accreditation process—is available at www.smc.edu/accreditation. Members of the public are also invited to submit comments or questions on the report, and may do so at www.smc.edu/publiccomment. The Commission also invites comments from the public, via a third-party comment form which is available on their website: www.accjc.org.
The ACCJC is one of seven regional accrediting bodies authorized to operate by the U.S. Department of Education through the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. SMC’s accreditation was most recently reaffirmed through a March 2010 comprehensive visit. For more information, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at 310-434-4844.