For the second consecutive accreditation cycle, Cochise College has received the full accreditation of 10 years from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Currently, more than 1,000 colleges and universities are affiliated with HLC. Accreditation is necessary to allow students to transfer to other institutions, give potential employers factual educational records on potential candidates, and obtain federal financial aid. Moreover, accreditation is necessary to keep educating students who call southeast Arizona home.
“On February 9, 2016, HLC took formal action to reaffirm the accreditation of Cochise College for an additional 10 years,” said Dr. J.D. Rottweiler college president in announcing the results to college personnel. “This is the maximum years allowable.”
“This reaffirmation demonstrates the amazing dedication the Cochise College family provides for our students and community. We thank our stakeholders, the foundation and our community for allowing us the privilege to continue our mission, and we are thrilled to keep unveiling the potential in students of Cochise County.”
HLC visited Cochise College campuses in October 2015. During the visit, HLC validated Cochise College’s Assurance Filing, a document of evidence compiled by the college to describe how it meets accreditation standards. HLC peer reviewers examined Cochise College to determine whether the college continued to meet the criteria for accreditation.
The criteria are organized under five major categories or criterion. Each criterion provides a series of expectations and holds institutions accountable to high standards while educating students.
These criterion statements are broken down into core components, and in some cases, sub-components. The five critical areas are: Mission; Integrity/Ethical and Responsible Conduct; Teaching and Learning/Quality, Resources and Support; Teaching and Learning/Evaluation and Improvement; and Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.
If the college lacks one or more core components of the criterion, it does not meet the criterion. Each criterion was peer reviewed by HLC visitors, and all five standards were successfully met.
The visiting team affirmed that the college meets the first core component related to its mission “to provide accessible educational opportunities that are responsive to a diverse population and lead to constructive citizenship, meaningful careers and lifelong learning.” The mission is articulated publicly and integrated into daily campus activities and schedules.
In addition, the college’s vision and values are available on its website, the official college Facebook page and athletic guides. Cochise College is home to clubs that promote a greater appreciation of diversity. Student support services such as tutoring, testing centers, veterans’ assistance, advising, wellness and fitness centers, counseling, and housing and dining at the Douglas Campus are made available to students.
The official HLC report concluded from the evidence provided that, “Cochise College’s mission is at the heart of all it does for the Cochise County constituencies it serves.”
The team agreed the college met the second core component by acting ethically and responsibly. Executive limitations as well as a code of ethics are in place and are accessible for the college community and the public. The Governing Board aims to be transparent in its decisions and actions and offers opportunities for input at every meeting.
The official HLC report stated that Cochise College “…puts forth a variety of efforts to guide students in the development of information resources, freedom of expression and citation of the work of others. The College is thorough in its approach to assuring integrity, ethical and responsible conduct of the institutional and board activities.”
Cochise College successfully met the third core component of providing high-quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
The college’s report states that it strives to offer a high-quality education to students at all campuses. Dual credit courses are taught, Virtual Campus is available to students, and Cochise College also has educational partnerships with several universities in Arizona for transferring. Cochise has a faculty to student ratio of 15:1 and offers co-curricular like athletes program which has teams in men’s baseball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s rodeo. Cochise College supports over thirty clubs and organizations to provide educational opportunities and career information to students.
HLC stated, “Over the last seven years, 49.5 percent (5,146) of Cochise graduates have continued their education, with 2,000 (19 percent) of them obtaining a bachelor’s degree, 465 (4 percent) a master’s degree and 24 a doctoral degree. The college is encouraged to continue to develop direct measures of graduate success.”
The fourth core component dictates that institutions demonstrate a commitment to educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning.
The HLC report concluded that Cochise College “demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.”
The final core component requires that the institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future.
Cochise reported that it ranked among the most affordable colleges by Affordable Colleges Online in 2013 and also was recently ranked No. 3 in the nation by SmartAsset.com for low-cost education, return-on-investment and high success rate for graduates. Additional efforts to increase effectiveness and efficiency in operations include conservative budgeting, cost-saving measures, contracts and grants, public-private partnerships, investment income, bookstore sales, food service sales and dormitory rentals.
HLC reported that Cochise College’s “processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future.”
For more information on accreditation and HLC, visit http://www.hlcommission.org.