Welcome to Mendocino College's accreditation website. The process of reaffirming Mendocino College's accreditation is currently underway for preparation for the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) official visit in Spring 2008. The current process involves an institutuional self-study whereby Mendocino Colege appraises its accomplishments, stated goals, and institutional performance since the last accreditation visit in 2002. The self-study process requires the entire college (staff, faculty, administration, and students) to partake in the process of gathering and documenting evidence to support the accreditation reaffirmation against the Commissions new Institutional Standards (from 10 to 4).

The self-study process involves forming committees around the standards and formally writing a draft that will encompass each Standard and how Mendocino College meets, exceeds, or is progressing in the direction of accommodating the standards guidelines. Chairs and co-chairs will be responsible for selecting committee members and periodically meeting with their committees throughout the school year to assure progress with the report.

The draft will then be edited and sent to the college community, and the Board of Trustees, for revisions and approval prior to the Commissions visit.

There are some links and information regarding Mendocino College's accreditation calendar as well as the ACCJC web page, which details the commissions policies and procedures involving institutional accreditation.

For additional information contact Rose Bell at rosebell@mendocino.edu

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a system of voluntary, non-governmental self regulation and peer review unique to American educational institutions. It is a system of self-evaluation referred to as an institutional self-study evaluating itself in accordance with standards of good practice regarding goals and objectives. It is a process by which accreditors provide students, the public, and each other with assurances of institutional integrity, quality, and effectiveness. Its purpose is to encourage planning for improvement in quality and effectiveness. Accreditation requires a comprehensive self-study every six years and a mandatory midterm report in the third year.

Six Regions of Accreditation in the United States

1. Middle States
2. New England
3. North Central
4. Northwest
5. Southern
6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges
ACCJC/WASC

The Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges is one of the two commissions of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. ACCJC accredits two year post secondary education programs. The service area includes California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of North Marianas, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau.

The primary purpose of an ACCJC-accredited institution is to foster learning in its students.