Accreditation Handbook, DE Resources & Report Templates
ACCREDITATION HANDBOOK
| Publication Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Accreditation Handbook ⬇ | The ACCJC Accreditation Handbook provides an overview of ACCJC’s comprehensive system of resources and collaborative practices that promote continuous quality improvement and advance equitable student outcomes. The Handbook is intended to serve as the primary reference for guiding institutions and review teams through the institutional evaluation process and to assist accreditation review teams and the Commission to fairly and consistently evaluate institutions. It is the Commission’s hope that the Handbook will be a helpful resource for a variety of readers, including representatives of institutions accredited by the Commission, institutions seeking accreditation, peer reviewers, and the general public. |
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Distance Education Resources
The Commission’s Policy on Distance Education and on Correspondence Education (in compliance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.3) specifies that all learning opportunities provided by accredited institutions must have equivalent quality, accountability, and focus on student outcomes, regardless of mode of delivery. For distance education review, ACCJC’s resources facilitate quality instruction in distance education, promote equitable student outcomes in the modality, increase clarity of ACCJC and federal expectations for institutions undergoing evaluation, and provide a consistent and objective approach.
Member institutions and peer review teams should use the following resources designed to support them in engaging in distance education review as part of a comprehensive review.
| Resource Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Quality Continuum Rubric for Distance Education ⬇ | The Quality Continuum Rubric for Distance Education supports institutions in the continuous improvement process to increase the depth and quality of substantive and regular interaction in distance education and promotes the achievement of equitable student success. It also provides a framework for peer reviewers to provide constructive feedback to the institution on areas where the college could improve or to validate highly developed practices in the Peer Review Team Report in the context of Accreditation Standard 2.6. |
| Protocol for Distance Education Review ⬇ | ACCJC’s Protocol for Distance Education Review provides general guidelines for institutions preparing for distance education review, including instructions for selecting a sample of courses. The protocol also provides the parameters for peer reviewers conducting the evaluation. |
| Addendum to the Protocol for Distance Education Review: A Tool for Peer Reviewers During the Evaluation Process ⬇ | The Addendum to the Protocol for Distance Education Review should be used by peer review teams to summarize their observations and findings in the sample of distance education courses they reviewed to verify substantive and regular interaction. |
| Distance Education Assessment Tool for Peer Reviewers | ACCJC’s Distance Education Assessment Tool for Peer Reviewers is an Excel spreadsheet for peer reviewers to document whether 85% of the sample of distance education courses included substantive and regular interaction. ⬇ PDF File Download: DE Assessment Tool for Peer Reviewers Preview ⬇ Excel File Download: DE Assessment Tool for Peer Reviewers |
| Distance Education Review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ⬇ | Clarification for frequently asked questions from institutions and peer reviewers related to distance education review. |
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INSTITUTIONAL REPORT TEMPLATES
ACCJC developed the templates below to assist institutions as they complete and submit reports that may be required by the Commission. Each template includes embedded instructions and guidance for the content and formatting of each report. For assistance or technical support with the templates, contact your assigned ACCJC staff liaison.
*Please note that the hyperlinked templates are Microsoft Word documents that will automatically download
for your use when clicked.
| Report Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Report Contact ACCJC for template | Required for institutions seeking to pursue ACCJC membership. Establishes compliance with Eligibility Requirements. |
| Institutional Self-Evaluation Report for Candidacy ⬇ | Required for applicant institutions as part of a candidacy application. Provides narrative and evidence documenting alignment with Standards. |
| Institutional Self-Evaluation Report ⬇ | Required for all institutions as part of a comprehensive review. Provides narrative and evidence documenting alignment with Standards. |
| College Update on Core Inquiries ⬇ | Required prior to focused site visit. Summarizes response and additional evidence related to each core inquiry. |
| Midterm Report ⬇ | Required for all institutions in the fourth year of the review cycle. Provides update on institutional improvements and student outcomes; looks forward to next self-evaluation. |
| Follow-Up Report for Initial Accreditation⬇ | Required for candidate institutions as part of the application for initial accreditation. Provides narrative and evidence documenting how the institution has addressed compliance requirements and aligned with Standards |
| Follow-Up Report⬇ | Completed only when required by the Commission. Provides narrative and evidence documenting how the institution has addressed compliance requirements and aligned with Standards |
| Special Report Contact ACCJC staff liaison for template | May be required by the Commission under certain circumstances. Provides information and evidence in response to a formal inquiry from the Commission, detailed in a formal action letter. |
| Teach-Out Plan ⬇ | Required during the preaccreditation process. May be required in response to certain circumstances or events that might lead to voluntary or involuntary closure. Documents how the institution will ensure equitable treatment of students in the event of a closure of the institution or location that provides 100% of at least one program. |
| Teach-Out Agreement(s) ⬇ | May be required as part of a Teach-Out Plan under certain circumstances. Documents written agreement(s) between institutions that ensure equitable treatment of students in the event of a closure of an institution or institutional location that provides 100% of at least one program. |
| Show Cause Report⬇ | May be required when the Commission finds an institution to be in substantial noncompliance with the Commission’s Standards. Demonstrates why the institution’s accreditation should not be withdrawn by providing evidence that it has corrected the deficiencies noted by the Commission and complies with the Commission’s Standards. |
| Closure Report Contact ACCJC staff liaison for template | Required when a decision to close an institution has been made, or when involuntary closure of the institution is imminent. |
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PEER REVIEW TEAM REPORT TEMPLATES
ACCJC developed the templates below to assist peer review teams with the completion of formal reports during the comprehensive review process. For questions, assistance, or technical support with the templates, contact your assigned ACCJC staff liaison.
*Please note that the hyperlinked templates are Microsoft Word documents that will automatically download for your
use when clicked.
| Report Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Core Inquiries Report⬇ 2024 Accreditation Standards | Summarizes areas or topics where the Peer Review Team would like clarification, expansion, or additional evidence. Establishes the primary lines of inquiry for the focused site visit. This template should only be used with Institutions using the 2024 Accreditation Standards. |
| Peer Review Team Report⬇ (Comprehensive Review) 2024 Accreditation Standards | Documents the findings of the Peer Review Team during a comprehensive peer review process. Contains recommendations to the Commission regarding the institution’s alignment with Standards. Provides suggestions and observations to support the institution’s continuous quality improvement efforts. This template should only be used with Institutions using the 2024 Accreditation Standards. |
| Peer Review Team Report⬇ (Follow-Up or Special Review) 2024 Accreditation Standards | Documents the findings of the Peer Review Team during a follow-up review, specifically related to institution’s progress on specific compliance requirements. Contains recommendations to the Commission regarding the institution’s alignment with Standards. Provides suggestions and observations to support the institution’s continuous quality improvement efforts. This template should only be used with Institutions using the 2024 Accreditation Standards. |
