Cochise College faces an important milestone later this month when it hosts a comprehensive evaluation visit for accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). As we have been promoting for the last several months, accreditation is necessary to enable students to transfer earned credentials to other institutions, share them with employers, and obtain federal financial aid.
In the comprehensive evaluation, peer reviewers determine whether the institution continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation by analyzing the institution’s Assurance Filing. The assurance document demonstrates evidence in five key areas: 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. Each key area consists of core components that provide the college an opportunity to link to documents as evidence that it is meeting important standards.
The preliminary analysis is followed by a campus visit. The purposes of the visit are to validate claims made in the Assurance Filing and to triangulate those materials with what the team finds during planned activities while on site.
Dr. Phyllis Abt, associate vice president emeritus at Front Range Community College, Colo., chairs the peer review committee that will visit Cochise. Dr. Elizabeth Stich, vice president of academics and student services at West Shore Community College, Mich., and Robin Bryant, Arts and Sciences Division chair at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, will join her Oct. 26-27 to confer with key college constituents. Visits with faculty, students, classified and administrative employees, senior administration, Governing Board and community members are planned.
Finally, the team will prepare a report identifying which core components of accreditation are met, which are met with concerns, and which are not met. The college will have an opportunity to respond, and follow-up action, if any, depend upon these findings.
HLC selected Cochise and other institutions to participate in its new Open Pathway Reaffirmation of Accreditation process based on accreditation history and overall stability. The Open Pathway process seeks to enhance institutional value and rigor and reduce the reporting burden on institutions. It also requires institutions to identify and carry out a quality initiative during the second half of the 10-year accreditation cycle. Cochise was pleased to be selected.
Cochise anticipates two assurance reviews during the next 10 years, with the first taking place via HLC’s online assurance system, and the second being a comprehensive evaluation that includes another visit and also looks at a Quality Initiative completed between years 5 and 9 of the cycle.
Accreditation is a big deal. The process has involved employees at all levels and serving in all corners of the institution. It’s a daunting project, but also one the college embraces as an opportunity to celebrate success and seek improvement. Though the HLC accreditation visit team schedule is full, please help us welcome Dr. Abt, Dr. Stich and Ms. Bryant should you be introduced to them in the community.
J.D. Rottweiler is president of Cochise College. Contact him at jdr@cochise.edu.