ACCJC Standards Review

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Background and Overview

ACCJC reviews (and if needed, revises) its Accreditation Standards every 10 years, in accordance with policy. Beginning in 2021, ACCJC began its formal review and revision of the 2014 Accreditation Standards as part of its ongoing efforts to advance equitable student success and educational excellence. The Standards Review is also consistent with ACCJC’s core goal of supporting the ongoing learning, improvement, and innovation of its member institutions as they pursue their unique institutional missions, visions and cultures. In June 2023, the Commission adopted the 2024 Accreditation Standards.

For questions, please contact standardsreview@accjc.org.

2024 Accreditation Standards

At its June 2023 meeting, the Commission approved the 2024 Accreditation Standards following their second reading. This historic moment is the culmination of a two-year planning, writing, and editing process involving significant engagement with stakeholders from member institutions and the public. ACCJC’s 2024 Accreditation Standards reflect the diversity of ACCJC member institutions, are streamlined and clear, emphasize equity and inclusion, and are focused on student outcomes!

Proposed Implementation

To implement the new Standards, ACCJC Staff and the Standards Review Leadership Team are recommending a two-year “pilot” period beginning immediately upon the adoption of the 2024 Accreditation Standards. During this two-year window, institutions may choose which Standards (2014 or 2024) they will use to conduct their self-evaluation. As of June 2023, 25 institutions have volunteered to serve as pilot colleges. ACCJC Staff and the Standards Review Leadership Team are also recommending the following improvements to be incorporated into the Standards implementation:

  • Extending the cycle of accreditation for institutions from seven years to eight years;
  • Revising the Midterm Report to allow for more meaningful mid-cycle reflection;
  • Altering the size and composition of a typical peer review team to focus the efforts of the evaluation;
  • Streamlining the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER);
  • Eliminating the Quality Focus Essay;
  • Redesigning training and engagement for college and peer reviewer preparation; and
  • Consolidating existing guides, manuals, and protocols into a single Accreditation Handbook.

As planning progresses, more details about the proposed implementation plans will be shared with members of the field through formal communications and redesigned resources. Additionally, ACCJC will host two informational webinars in fall 2023.

Goals for the Standards Review Process

ACCJC’s overarching goals for the Standards Review Process were as follows:

  • To reinforce principles of collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity in the design and implementation of the Standards Review Process.
  • To generate clear, effective Standards that validate and support continuous quality improvement in support of student success and educational excellence in two-year institutions.
  • To generate clear, effective Standards that support member institutions’ continuous learning, improvement, and innovation in pursuit of their unique institutional missions, visions, and cultures.
  • To generate clear, effective Standards that support the Commission as it assesses institutional quality and makes decisions on the accredited status of member institutions.

Standards Review Timeline

The tentative timeline below provides a high-level overview of the entire Standards Review Process. Scroll down to find an interactive timeline with full details. CLICK HERE for a printable timeline and please note, the timeline is subject to change.

For questions, please contact standardsreview@accjc.org.

Current Phase: First Cohort Trained

Preloader

  • Recruitment

      Recruitment for Peer Writing and Peer Reading Teams begins. Applications due March 1. Potential team members notified of selection in late March/mid April. All team members attend Standards Review Launch meeting on May 6 orientation.

       

      Application Window:
      February 1 to March 1, 2021 

    • Standards Review Launch

      Selected Team Members will meet via Zoom for the official launch and orientation to the Standards Review Process. All writing and reading team members are required to attend.

    • Peer Writing Teams

      Peer Writing Teams convene. Development work continues through Fall 2021, with the goal of completing initial drafts by mid-December.

    • Peer Reading Teams

      Peer Reading Teams convene. Review of the initial drafts continues through early-mid April. Feedback synthesized and incorporated as appropriate, with the goal of completing the Draft Standards by the end of the semester.

    • Solicit Feedback from the Field

      ACCJC presents Draft Standards to the field for dialogue and input. The Commission will host regional and virtual town halls and attend industry events. Feedback will be synthesized and incorporated into the Draft Standards as appropriate.

    • 1st Reading of Proposed Draft Standards

      Commission receives Draft Standards for first reading in Open Session. Feedback synthesized and incorporated into the Proposed Standards as appropriate.

    • Solicit Feedback from the Field

      ACCJC presents Proposed Standards to the field. Opportunities for dialogue and engagement (symposia, webinars, presentations, comment forms, etc.) focus on identifying any remaining areas that require adjustment prior to the Commission’s Second Reading and adoption.

    • 2nd Reading & Adoption

      Commission receives Proposed Standards for second reading and adoption in Open Session. Proposed Standards become the Commission’s adopted 2024 Accreditation Standards.

    • First Cohort Trained

      ACCJC staff train first cohort of colleges using the 2024 Accreditation Standards in preparation for Team ISER Reviews occurring in Fall 2025. From Fall 2023 onward, all colleges will be trained on the 2024 Accreditation Standards.

    • Peer Review Teams Trained

      ACCJC staff train first cohort of Peer Review Teams on the 2024 Standards in preparation for Team ISER Reviews in Fall 2025. From this point forward, all Peer Review activities will be conducted using the 2024 Accreditation Standards.

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